Book chapter
Theories of Collaborative Cognition: Foundations for CSCL and CSCW Together
Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning at the Workplace, pp 43-63
07 Mar 2013
Abstract
Both computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) and computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) are centrally concerned with teamwork, learning, problem solving, knowledge building, task accomplishment, and other cognitive achievements by small groups of people. There are many theories useful for framing the cognitive work that groups undertake in CSCL and CSCW settings, and they may in principle not be reducible to a single theory. However, they seem foundational for both CSCL and CSCW, including their synthesis in CSCL@Work. Collaboration research explores questions involving numerous distinct—though interacting—phenomena at multiple levels of description. It is important to conceptualize these group activities as involving individual participants in group processes within larger community contexts. The useful approach may be to clearly distinguish levels such as individual, small-group, and community units of analysis, and to differentiate terminology for discussing these different levels. Theory in general has evolved dramatically over the ages, with a trend to extend the unit of cognition beyond the single idea or even the individual mind. Seminal theoretical works influential within collaboration research suggest a post-cognitive approach to group cognition as a complement to—if not a foundation for—analyzing cognition of individuals or of communities-of-practice. While CSCL and CSCW can both build upon shared theories of cognition, they may derive different implications from those theories as relevant for students versus professionals and may converge in cases of CSCW at Work.
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Details
- Title
- Theories of Collaborative Cognition: Foundations for CSCL and CSCW Together
- Creators
- Gerry Stahl - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning at the Workplace, pp 43-63
- Series
- Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Series
- Publisher
- Springer US; Boston, MA
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- [Retired Faculty]
- Other Identifier
- 991019203772104721