Pedagogical models in CSCL appropriation: the role of technology and task design for knowledge creation

Iolanda Garcia & Begoña Gros, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Ingrid Noguera, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain

In this paper we present the results obtained in a three year research project financed by the Spanish government (R+D+i call). The project intends the design of adequate pedagogical models for CSCL appropriation by teachers in several schools. With this aim, teachers from four primary and secondary schools have participated in the design and implementation of collaborative learning and knowledge building experiences working with two different CSCL tools: FLE and BSCL.

In this paper we analyse the referred experiences focussing on the use of FLE and BSCL made by teachers and students, paying special attention towards the role and efficacy of those two tools in supporting collaborative and knowledge building processes in classroom designed environments. Task design and guidance conducted by teachers is used as a frame to analyse those learning situations and the supporting use of the mentioned technological tools. In this sense, we try to identify advantages and inconveniences related with the use of each tool, considering the different approaches applied to their design: in the case of FLE we are talking about a tool originally based on knowledge building theory, while in the second case (BSCL) we talk about an adaptation to learning contexts of another tool (BSCW), a platform originally conceived and designed to support collaborative work situations from the perspective of shared information management.

To start with, we describe the general research design and the methodological approach used. Secondly, we focus on main results and finally we discuss conclusions and interpretations and set up some questions that may open new lines for future research.

At this moment we are in the last stage of the project. We participated in SI 2007 presenting the design of our study and we would like to share now our results and conclusions within this community.