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The Role of Communication and Facilitation for CSCL@Work

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Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning at the Workplace

Part of the book series: Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Series ((CULS,volume 14))

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Abstract

This chapter deals with the role of communication and facilitation for computer-supported collaborative learning in the workplace (CSCL@work). The difficulty of gaining hands-on experience doing group work with distance education makes high quality and organization in technologically mediated communication vital. This chapter examines the role that facilitators can play in raising the quality of communication in CSCL@work. Based on related work on the facilitation of face-to-face and computer-supported communication a model of triadic communication is presented that focuses on the tasks of a facilitator. Triadic communication means communication with three roles (communicator, recipient, and facilitator). For these tasks technical support within a CSCL-system is developed and analyzed in two cases studies: one study dealing with the facilitation of asynchronous computer-supported learning and the other study with the facilitation of synchronous settings. Results of the studies concern technical features as well as facilitation strategies. From the results generic design principles for the facilitation of communication within CSCL at the workplace are derived and integrated on the model of triadic communication.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    There is sometimes confusion about the wording for this role: in English literature the term “facilitator” is dominant, and in German literature the term “Moderator” is used. In this chapter the terms facilitator and moderator are used as synonyms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Emil-Figge Str. 42, 44221, Dortmund, Germany

    Andrea Kienle

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  1. Andrea Kienle
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Correspondence to Andrea Kienle .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , College of Information Science and Techn, Drexel University, n/a, Philadelphia, 19104, Pennsylvania, USA

    Sean P. Goggins

  2. , Department of Applied Educational Scienc, Umeå University, n/a, Umeå, SE-901 87, Sweden

    Isa Jahnke

  3. , Department of Applied Educational Scienc, Umeå University, n/a, Umeå, SE-901 87, Sweden

    Volker Wulf

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Kienle, A. (2013). The Role of Communication and Facilitation for CSCL@Work. In: Goggins, S., Jahnke, I., Wulf, V. (eds) Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning at the Workplace. Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Series, vol 14. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1740-8_9

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