How Groups Collaborate In Learning - Research Paper Example

Education has followed a constructivist approach (Papert, 1980). Where learning is not just to perceive knowledge but is to be able to make sense of the knowledge. Deep investigation on how learning happens within a group of learners is needed to understand the main assumptions of collaborative learning. There are different types of learning such as learning by doing, observational learning and conversational learning. Throughout this literature review, the learning theories will be investigated to understand the background of how collaborative learning (Johnson and Johnson, 1975; Slavin, 1987) emerged into the learning discipline.

This will be followed by a review of how technology could help to address and improve the collaborative learning? One of the main sections of the literature review investigates ICT (Information Communication Technology) relating it to the main umbrella of the HCI (Human-computer Interaction). The use of the computer and especially when it involves the web claimed to be one of the most powerful tools for providing teachers and learners with an interactive and independent learning environment. This claim is justified by the immediate and widely accessed web resources.

The growth, expansion and development of the web helped to formulate the need of forming online communities. One type of these communities is the learning community.In order to view the CSCL (Computer Supported Collaborative Learning) concepts, we need first to go through the technology discipline where it is believed that CSCL rises from this field of technology to build the interactive learning environments.The third specific focus of the study is the Social Relationships and how it could affect the learning performance of collaborative learning.

The study is going to examine the pre-existing relationships between learners depending on social relationships theories and show how they affect the collaborative learning environments.