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Interaction synchronicity in web-based collaborative learning systems

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Bader-Natal, A. (2009). Interaction synchronicity in web-based collaborative learning systems. In T. Bastiaens et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education 2009 (pp. 1121-1129). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org/p/32603.

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Conference Information

World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education (ELEARN) 2009
Vancouver, Canada
October 26, 2009
ISBN 1-880094-76-2
  Theo Bastiaens, Jon Dron & Cindy Xin
AACE

More Information on ELEARN
Table of Contents

Author

Ari Bader-Natal, Grockit, Inc., USA

Abstract

While many web-based learning systems connect students asynchronously, fewer systems focus on facilitating synchronous interactions among learners. Given the value of real-time communication – the social and motivational benefits of having a cohort of peers and the ability for a student to get immediate answers to pressing questions – it is perhaps surprising that more systems do not support interaction synchronicity. We suggest that this is due, in part, to a mismatch between the hypertext document-oriented nature of the web and the social activity-oriented nature of learning, and we explore how several systems address this discrepancy. We discuss Grockit, a web-based learning environment that we designed to support both synchronous and asynchronous interactions, and share lessons learned from grappling with the choices enabled by this flexibility: Which interactions should to be synchronous? Which should be asynchronous? Which should be a mix? What should that mix be?

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