The Real Challenge of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning: How Do We Motivate ALL Stakeholders?

Abstract

This chapter starts from the premise that, to be effective, computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) has to be intrinsically motivating. However, in contrast to much of the literature in the field, which focuses almost exclusively on the needs of students, this chapter discusses three groups of stakeholders whose concerns and motivation have to be considered: students, instructors, and institutions. Following a critical review of the literature on online education in general, which highlights some of the major themes that have attracted research so far, the chapter proceeds to introduce a paradigm that integrates the needs of the above three groups of stakeholders. The model is followed by a description of the Radical Model, an innovative approach to computer-supported collaborative learning that is an example of applying the proposed paradigm in practice. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the research implications from the model.