Collaborative Learning in Dynamic Group Environments

This chapter is dedicated to Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) employing dynamic groups, where at different stages students work independently, interact with each other in pairs, and conduct joint work in larger groups with varying numbers of participants. A novel Dynamic Group Environment for Collaborative Learning (DGE/CL) that supports students in making informed and intelligent choices about how, when, and with whom to collaborate is introduced. A face-to-face collaborative scenario, where all students are in the same room and can move freely around and interact with each other while using digitally enhanced printed materials with direct point-and-click functionality is considered. Flexible and efficient support for dynamic group management is ensured through the adopted Cluster Pattern Interface (CLUSPI) technology, which, while preserving the original touch-and-feel of printed educational materials, supports additional affordances and allows employment of new, non-traditional paper-based interactions. Possibilities for DGE/CL enhancements with specialized surface code readers and laser-based digital surface encoding being developed by the authors are outlined and references to recent projects are given.