A reflective CSCL environment with foundations based on the activity theory

Abstract

Users need more evolving CSCL systems allowing them to coconstruct their groupware environment. As a response to this problem, this paper presents how we are trying to define more foundational relationships between human and computer sciences. Starting from studies of the contribution of human science to CSCW, we present some approaches similar to ours. We finally present DARE, our new meta-groupware. DARE takes elements coming from both human and computer sciences defining a boundary abstraction with its conceptual model. Its design is mainly rooted in Activity Theory and advanced software design strategies like open implementation. DARE particularly emphasises on co-construction and expansiveness properties of human activity and may be defined as more than a meta-groupware, but as a reflective groupware. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2000.