Introduction

What is Collaboration?

According to Wikipedia, collaboration is 'a recursive process where two or more people...work together toward an intersection of common goals...by sharing knowledge, learning, and building consensus.' (Ref: Wikipedia)

Working with others is an important part of the learning process, particularly within classrooms, networks and communities of practice. It is the interaction between learners and between teachers aiming to develop new understanding that is at the heart of collaborative practice. More than simply working with others, collaboration emphasises activities where each participant comes away with new knowledge and understanding due to their interaction with others. "Sharing, contributing to, reflecting on and listening are all important parts of this process, with the outcome being a shared development of understanding." (Ref: Innovative Teachers Toolkit)

Collaboration tools are those that enable remote collaboration.
But what role can computers play in supporting collaborative activities?