CSCL is focused on how collaborative learning
supported by technology can enhance peer interaction
and work in groups, and how collaboration and
technology facilitate sharing and distributing of
knowledge and expertise among community members.
Whilst talking about computer-supported collaborative
learning one typically refers to the acronym
CSCL, without speculation about the latter “C”
word (the first stands for ‘computer’) and what it
might stand for. The short history of CSCL shows,
however, that there have been different interpretations
and suggestions for the “C” word such as,
collective, coordinated, cooperative and collaborative.
Despite the different interpretations of the
“C” word, most researchers appear to use it nowadays
as one of these three last terms.

Wilfred Rubens

Collaboration

Within learning sciences, common to the different
definitions of collaboration is that they stress
the idea of co construction of knowledge and mutual
engagement of participants. In this sense, collaboration
can be considered as a special form of
interaction. Collaboration can be defined as a coordinated,
synchronous activity that is the result of a
continued attempt to construct and maintain a
shared conception of a problem.
Collaboration can be also defined as a process of
participating in knowledge communities. It is a process
that helps students become members of knowledge
communities whose common property is different
from the common property of the knowledge
communities they already belong to. Several researchers
speak about knowledge-building communities.

CSCL is focused on how
collaborative learning supported by
technology can enhance peer
interaction and work in groups, and
how collaboration and technology
facilitate sharing and distributing of
knowledge and expertise among
community members.