The impact of goal focus, task type and group size on synchronous net-based collaborative learning discourses.

Net-based collaborative learning discourses often suffer from deficiencies such as lack of coherence and coordination. It is suggested that the provision of two functionalities, referencing and typing, which learners may optionally use to ground their contributions during a chat-based discourse, can...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Computer Assisted Learning Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 161 - 177
Main Authors: Pfister H, Oehl M
Format: pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Apr2009
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=105344528&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 105344528
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        02664909
        6M1
      jtl: Journal of Computer Assisted Learning
      issn: 02664909
      maglogo: Y
    pubinfo:
      dt: Apr2009
      vid: 25
      iid: 2
      pid: 480
      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
    artinfo:
      ui:
        105344528
        105344528
        2010457762
        10.1111/j.1365-2729.2008.00287.x
        105344528
      ppf: 161
      ppct: 16
      formats:
      tig:
        atl: The impact of goal focus, task type and group size on synchronous net-based collaborative learning discourses.
      aug:
        au:
          Pfister H
          Oehl M
        affil: Institute of Experimental Industrial Psychology (LueneLab), University of Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany, Wilschenbrucher Weg 84, D-21335 Lüneburg, Germany; pfister@uni-lueneburg.de
      sug:
        subj:
          Collaboration
          Goals and Objectives
          Internet
          Learning Methods
          Student Attitudes
          Achievement Tests
          Adult
          Chi Square Test
          Coefficient alpha
          Descriptive Statistics
          Disasters Education
          Disasters History
          Female
          Funding Source
          Germany
          Interpersonal Relations
          Male
          Outcomes of Education
          Questionnaires
          Random Assignment
          Software
          Summated Rating Scaling
          Human
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Female
          Male
      ab: Net-based collaborative learning discourses often suffer from deficiencies such as lack of coherence and coordination. It is suggested that the provision of two functionalities, referencing and typing, which learners may optionally use to ground their contributions during a chat-based discourse, can improve collaborative learning. In particular, we examined if goal focus, type of task and group size affect learning outcomes and the use of these functionalities. A chat-based system, called a learning protocol, implements these functionalities and serves as a net-based collaborative learning environment. Results suggest that a learning protocol is more beneficial for knowledge-acquisition tasks than for problem-solving tasks, and that the use of supporting functionalities increases when goal focus is on the group rather than on the individual. Also, there is a tendency that learning outcomes improve as group size increases. We propose that learning protocols provide potentially valuable design features that can promote net-based collaborative learning.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        pictorial
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N