Prototype Tools for the Flexible Design of CSCL Activities Based on the Adaptation Pattern Perspective

摘要

This work presents the design and preliminary evaluation data regarding two prototype tools (namely, FlexCoLab and PPR), which have been designed according to the prescriptions of the adaptation pattern perspective for promoting a flexible design of CSCL activities. An adaptation pattern is described as a peda-gogically useful and well-targeted adjustment process that can be initiated by the teacher or the CSCL system, in order to foster an improved learning setting when specific conditions occur during the collaborative learning activity. Both tools aim to support teachers in the process of developing flexible designs of online collaborative activities by reusing and customizing adaptation patterns, according to the requirements of a particular learning situation. "Advance the advanced" and "Support group of novices" are two adaptation patterns implemented by FlexCoLab, while "Advance the advanced", "Heterogeneity group formation based on prior domain knowledge", "Support groups of novices" and "Lack of confidence" are the adaptation patterns supported by PPR. In the chapter we present the theoretical background of adaptation patterns, the design specifications of the two systems and student evaluation data from implementing an in-school collaborative learning activity supported by PPR.