An application framework for collaborative learning

Abstract

We present the design of a new web application framework for collaborative learning. The framework guides users (i.e. teachers) in implementing online activities based on well-known pedagogical techniques, and simplifies the development of collaboration tools needed to carry out those techniques. There are common tasks across various techniques and our framework organizes them in a layer of abstraction. The framework model has four abstraction layers: Pedagogical Models, Pedagogical Techniques, Collaboration Tasks Patterns, and CSCL Tools. By using this framework, developers will place the control of designing and implementing new functionalities in the teacher's hand rather than in the software designer's. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.