e-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning

12.8. Collaborative Structures and CSCL Outcomes

Research in face-to-face collaborative learning summarized by Slavin (1983), Slavin, Hurley, and Chamberlain (2003) and Mayer (2007), as well as the Lou, Abrami, and d'Apollonia (2001) meta-analysis of virtual collaboration, suggests that under appropriate conditions students can learn more together than individually. A structured collaborative assignment is one critical condition to maximize benefits from group work. A second is accountability for learning of each member of the team. Collaborative environments that give general instructions such as "Discuss these issues" and that reward group products rather than individual products may not lead to optimal results.