Conversation analysis

This book explores the extent to which the systematic analysis of the interactions between instructors, learners, and content within computer-supported cooperative learning (CSCL) environments can provide evidence of learning processes and learning outcomes, as represented in the participants´ discourse. The book also describes a framework for the systematic analysis of online conversations in CSCL environments. The framework emerged in a qualitative study from the connections between communication theory, instructional design theory, and learning theory. Such a framework can inform the design and evaluation of instruction for CSCL systems in distance education environments. Both researchers and practitioners in the fields of instructional design, computer-supported cooperative learning, adult learning, and distance education could benefit from the research results described in this book.