A Collaborative Learning Activity and a software tool for improving language skills

Abstract

It seems that actual software tools utilizing Computer-Mediated Communication mechanisms -like messaging or chat systems- do not help young students to learn good grammar skills. On the other hand, it is difficult to design and build software tools for supporting the acquisition of language skills, especially if those tools must support a group of student working in a collaborative way. In this paper we show the design of a Collaborative Learning activity and the corresponding software tool developed to support teaching grammar to primary education Chilean students. Some mechanisms were designed to incorporate Positive Interdependencies in the software tool. The tool was also intended to support Individual Accountability for each member of the group. The developed software tool contains two main interfaces, one for individual work and one for supporting face-to-face group work interactions. Both, Collaborative Learning activity and software tool were designed to support teaching Spanish grammar, but they can be adapted for supporting other language's grammar.