The on-line collaboration/communication may be asynchronous  ("at different times"), such as e-mail, where you send a message and wait for a reply, or synchronous ("at the same time, simultaneously"), such as "chat" on WebBoard or video-conferencing.

For another site that goes into more detail on what CSCL is, check out this one at Villanova University (Pennsylvania). 

Tools for CSCL/CMC include: 

• e-mail 
• e-mail listservs
• MUDs ( 'Multi-User Domains' -- originally  'Multi-User Dungeons') 
• MOOs ('MUD, Object Oriented'), internet accessible, text mediated virtual environments well suited for distance learning.  Check out this list of Educational and Foreign-Language MOOs (some more educational than others).
• MUVEs ('Multi-User Virtual Environments') -- not as widely -used a term as MUDs and MOOs, but the preferred term at TAPPED IN.
• 2D (two-dimensional) and 3D Virtual Worlds -- the latest "gee-whiz" environment for computer-mediated communication where participants choose new pictoral identities ("avatars") and move around realistic terrains to  meet other participants, and build new homes, towns, and even planets. The Contact Consortium site is a good introduction to the concept with links to real 2D and 3D "worlds".

On Monday, July 13 at 12:00 noon, we are scheduled to take a tour of an educational MOO (among other things), TAPPED IN, created by SRI, Inc., a Northern California-based research institute. 

Post your reaction to the virtual tour in CTERbase as assignment 2a. Type into the Description field the advantages and disadvantages you see for using environments like TAPPED IN.

TAPPED IN is a multipurpose educational Web site/MOO for K-14 teachers (more than 1,200), educational researchers, and partner organizations interested in online education.  TAPPED IN describes its nature and aims in this on-line paper, well-worth skimming before the tour. 

Here is the transcript from Mark Schlager of his group's virtual tour of TAPPED IN on July 13th. And here are Judi Fusco's notes from her group's tour. Thanks again, Mark and Judi for guiding us through TAPPED IN.

2b. Article(s) for reading and discussion:  

Each student should decide on one article from the hyperlinked list provided by Dr. Chris Dede at George Mason University.  Read your article by Wednesday (July 15) and add a brief summary and your comments to the WebBoard conference 387 2b.  Be sure to write the name of the author in the title slot. Try to choose an article that no one else has chosen, if possible.  (Hint: Check the WebBoard first to see what others have already reported on.)

c) Sometime following Monday's tour,  arrange a "conference" time  with other members of at least one of your groups to meet in the CTER room in TAPPED IN for a live conference, as you have been doing on WebBoard. Use one of the publicRecorders in the room to record your activities, then MAILME (a command) a copy to each group member's e-mail address:  i.e.  MAILME <recorder name> Then, transform the e-mail message into a quickie Web page.

• Create a new file, paste the transcript into it, and save it as an HTML file in your folder on the server. Then post the URL to it into CTERbase as assignment 2c.
• On WebBoard, share your group's experience with the MOO style of virtual conferencing in conference 387 2c.
• Due by Friday, July 17.

d) In addition, set up a real-time ("live") meeting with one of TAPPED IN's cooperating academics in various fields -- or another K-12 teacher with similar interests -- sometime in the week before Saturday.  Alternatively, check the weekly activity board in Reception for a TAPPED IN group activity to join in, such as Math Forum.  (A good topic to ask our Monday tour guide about.) Post a short description of this into CTERbase as assignment 2d.