Title: Collaborative learning in technology-supported environments: two cases of project-enhanced science learning

Authors: Paivi Hakkinen

Addresses: Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyvaskyla, PO Box 35, 40351 Jyvaskyla, Finland

Abstract: The aim of this study is to analyse and describe two different computer-supported science-learning projects in Finnish elementary and secondary education. The two projects differ by the degree of task structuring and by the ways in which the learning environments attempt to support sharing of cognitive achievements and interaction between different project participants. The aim of this paper is to discuss some of the essential elements promoting or restricting successful project-based learning in the light of these two projects. The subjects of the study are students working in small groups in authentic classroom contexts; groups of two primary school students and four secondary school students were chosen for an intensive follow-up analysis. The results indicate a need to support a more reflective and deeper level of discussion by encouraging collaboration during project work. At the end of this article, some suggestions for enhancing learning with understanding in advanced technology-supported environments are made in terms of pedagogical and contextual solutions.

Keywords: social knowledge construction; collaborative learning; science learning; authenticity; project-enhanced learning; computer-supported collaborative learning; networked interaction; networked interaction; Hyper News.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2001.000407

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2001 Vol.11 No.4/5/6, pp.375-390

Published online: 16 Jul 2003 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article