This books deals with computer-mediated cooperation and communication scenarios in teaching and learning situations, leisure activities (e.g. laypersons looking for expert information on the internet), and net-based communication at work. Such scenarios will become increasingly important. But the successful use of such computer-mediated settings is not trivial. Cooperative learning and work itself requires special skills and strategies. And the technical settings with sometimes restricted, sometimes new possibilities for communication add problems on top of the cooperation itself. What are the barriers in computer-mediated communication for cooperative learning and work? Which are the most relevant biases in computer-mediated information processing? Based on empirical research the contributors from psychology, education and computer sciences offer different perspectives on the nature and causes of such barriers. The chapters also give an answer to the question how it might be possible to overcome these barriers and biases to fully gain advantage from the new technical opportunities. These results and answers are of interest for students as well as for researchers in all fields related to the use and evaluation of computer software in communication settings.

"This books deals with computer-mediated cooperation and communication scenarios in teaching and learning situations, leisure activities (e.g. laypersons looking for expert information on the internet), and net-based communication at work. Such scenarios will become increasingly important. But the successful use of such computer-mediated settings is not trivial. Cooperative learning and work itself requires special skills and strategies. And the technical settings with sometimes restricted, sometimes new possibilities for communication add problems on top of the cooperation itself. What are the barriers in computer-mediated communication for cooperative learning and work? Which are the most relevant biases in computer-mediated information processing? Based on empirical research, the contributors from psychology, education and computer sciences offer different perspectives on the nature and causes of such barriers. The chapters also give an answer to the question as to how it might be possible to overcome these barriers and biases to fully gain advantage from the new technical opportunities. These results and answers are of interest for students as well as for researchers in all fields related to the use and evaluation of computer software in communication settings. TOC:Barriers, biases and opportunities of communication and cooperation with computers: Introduction and overview.- Facilitating collaborative knowledge construction in computer-mediated learning environments with cooperation scripts.- How to support synchronous net-based learning discourses: Principles and perspectives.- Instructional support for collaboration in desktop videoconference settings.- Barriers and biases in computer-mediated expert-layperson-communication.- Exploring why virtual teamworking is effective in the lab but more difficult in the workplace.- Social dilemma in knowledge communication via shared databases.- Enhancing sociability of computer-supported collaborative learning environments.-Knowledge sharing in teams of heterogeneous experts.- Knowledge communication in design communities.- Designing biases that augment socio-cognitive interactions.- How do people learn?- Technology affordances for intersubjective learning, and how they may be exploited.- Name index.- Subject index."

Barriers, Biases and Opportunities of Communication and Cooperation with Computers: Introduction and Overview.- Facilitating Collaborative Knowledge Construction in Computer-Mediated Learning Environments with Cooperation Scripts.- How to Support Synchronous Net-Based Learning Discourses: Principles and Perspectives.- Instructional Support for Collaboration in Desktop Videoconference Settings.- Barriers and Biases in Computer-Mediated Expert-Layperson-Communication.- Exploring Why Virtual Teamworking is Effective in the Lab but More Difficult in the Workplace.- Social Dilemma in Knowledge Communication via Shared Databases.- Enhancing Sociability of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Environments.- Knowledge Sharing in Teams of Heterogeneous Experts.- Knowledge Communication in Design Communities.- Designing Biases That Augment Socio-Cognitive Interactions.- How Do People Learn?.- Technology Affordances for Intersubjective Learning, and How They May Be Exploited.