Book Review: CSCL 2: Carrying Forward the Conversation

Abstract

Reviewed by: Sadhana Puntambekar, University of MichiganThis volume, in which many of the chapters have originated from CSCL'97, consists of twelve chapters that are divided into three sections-technology transfer, empirical studies of CSCL, and technologies for collaboration and learning.The format of the book symbolizes the epistemological and philosophical underpinnings of CSCL-that of collaboratively constructing knowledge. The book is written in the form of a conversation; each chapter is followed by commentaries to which the authors have responded. This is an unconventional and intriguing format for a book, and the commentaries for each chapter provide new insights into the topics discussed in the chapters. Although the chapters are revised versions of the papers presented at the 1997 conference, the issues that are discussed are relevant to CSCL research today. Hence, instead of commenting on each chapter, this review is organized around the issues that are common throughout. Reading all of the chapters in the book provided the opportunity to look for issues that are similar or different across the CSCL environments described in the book. It is these issues that this review is focused on, in the hope that we will carry forward the conversation beyond the current writing. I have summarized the issues in CSCL research under two broad headings: Factors affecting CSCL such as the context, the tool, and the role of the teacher; and documenting collaborative interactions.