CSCL - A brief overview & interesting links for further study




CSCL; - Summary of the main points in the class CSCL literature

In this section we deal specifically with CSCL as a research paradigm. Thus we write about CSCL's intellectual heritage (theoretical background), model of instruction and some of the technical implications of the approach.

Before we move into the specifics of CSCL, however, we summarize the important aspects of the previous paradigms of "Instructional Technology" (CAI, ITS, Logo-As-Latin) that Timothy Koschmann (1996) identifies in the book; "CSCL; Theory and practice of an emerging paradigm". When presenting these paradigms of IT use we will draw on the ideas presented in the previous section on psychological theories since each of the paradigms adopts different learning theories as one of their fundamental assumptions. A tabulated crossreference/ summary of the paradigms will be presented in which the paradigms will be compared regarding epistemological issues, research focus and methods, views of learning and other important aspects. This table makes it easy to see the major differences that Koschmann identifies between the approaches (which he refers to as paradigms).

In addition to the historical & theoretical focus, we will look closer at some of the technical implications of CSCL. By this we basically mean how research is performed within this paradigm and how it has evolved according to changing theoretical assumptions.

Last updated; 09.07.98.
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