Supporting Virtual Collaborative Learning using Collaboration Scripts and Content Schemes

Abstract

Collaborative learning is used as a key principle in several approaches for designing virtual learning environments (e.g. CTGV, 2000). This is due to the fact that collaboration seems to foster individual knowledge acquisition (Lou, Abrami, Spence, Poulsen, Chambers, & d’Apollonia, 1996), improve knowledge application (De Corte, 2003), and increase social competencies. But collaborative learning is not always successful (Salomon & Globerson, 1989). Virtual learning places great and varied demands on collaboration, which means that learners often do not know how to collaborate adequately. In such cases, it is necessary to provide support. This chapter focuses specifically on two structuring methods, namely collaboration scripts and content schemes. To gain further insight into the topic, the authors will first describe the technical aspects of virtual collaborative learning. In the second section, the authors will depict the learning processes and outcomes of collaboration. Thirdly, they will discuss the theory and research on the structuring methods. The chapter ends with conclusions and practical implications.