Virtual Collaborative Learning
The idea of collaborative learning is based on constructivist principles. Consequently, the aim of this learning method is not to transfer the knowledge of the tutor to the learners, but rather to enable and support them to create their own knowledge by interacting in small groups – thus enabling the enhancement of individual knowledge by the knowledge of the group (Alderman 2000; Balázs 2005, p. 36). Therefore the members of a learning group cooperate and collaborate to solve a common problem (Bair 1989), which encompasses a complex, ill-structured and authentic task, that the learners are likely to encounter in real world situations outside of the learning arrangement (Balázs 2005, p. 63; Klauser, Schoop, Wirth, Jungmann & Gersdorf 2004, p. 7).
If the learning groups use modern ICT for their collaborative learning processes in the majority of time, collaborative learning turns into Virtual Collaborative Learning (VCL). The authors define VCL as the learner-centred common solving of ill-structured, academic tasks in self-organized small groups, in which learners are commonly responsible for the success of the entire group. As other eLearning arrangements VCL increases the participants’ flexibility by allowing them to contribute to the group work independently of time and space. Thus members of the group can interact from geographically disjunct locations, making VCL suitable for international learning settings. However, VCL - particularly in the international context - is a highly complex setting which requires increased attention and time investment of the tutor, in comparison to the more “traditional” learning arrangements (e.g. lectures).
In order to cope with the increased complexity, a five-staged organisational framework to structure VCL arrangements has been developed at the authors’ chair (Balázs 2005, p. 75). While the five phases are Analysis, Conception, Preparation, Implementation and Evaluation of the VCL Arrangement, the actual VCL session takes place in the Preparation and Implementation phase.