Collaboration in a Web-Based Learning Environment: Opportunities and Challenges

The purpose of this study was to examine how computer conferencing might facilitate collaborative learning for students to engage in meaningful discussion. The participants in this study consisted of the instructor and the students in a graduate level course. Different sources of evidence were used to triangulate the data: in-depth interviews, content analysis of transcripts of discussion, and other archival data including course syllabus, presentation materials, and lecture notes. Participants perceived web-based learning as collaborative process, providing opportunities to share the idea, respect and evaluate different perspectives, and co-construct new insights. Analysis of the data revealed several challenges related collaboration in a web-based learning environment: absence of a sense of community, technical problems, adaptability to different types of learner, and managing the discussion. The data also indicated that a variety of strategies were used to facilitate learning: building a sense of community, technical support, developing instructional methodologies, class size, and design of the content.