Towards next steps for the CSCL Community: Advancing science and informing real world collaboration in Web 2.0

The CSCL community is at a crossroads -- at the brink of new paradigms in theories, methods, and forms of support, as new opportunities for impact in the expanding Web 2.0 space present themselves.  As a community, we must find a strategic footing within the changing landscape.  We need to advance and integrate new theories, methods, and supportive technologies. To that end, one goal of the workshop is to identify cross-cutting themes in CSCL research related to alternative Web 2.0 platforms. Another goal is to identify a strategic positioning for research in CSCL in synergy with the HCI/CSCW literature.

In this highly interactive workshop, we will have invited presentations, panel discussions with audience participation, and poster sessions. Each participant is invited (but not required!) to bring a poster related to one of the three workshop themes: Collaboration in Social Networks, Collaboration in Work Communities, and Coordination and Self-Regulation in Online Learning Communities.

Historically, prior to the rise of Web 2.0, the field of Computer Supported Cooperative Work encompassed collaboration broadly, including both learning and work.  However, over time differential concerns related to learning and work led to division between communities.  On the positive side, the CSCL community was birthed, matured, flourished, and has made important advances over time.  Nevertheless, the split has also resulted in missed opportunities.  With the rise of Web 2.0, the commonality of concerns between communities has increased, however, communication between communities has not kept up with this shift.  With the recent rise of the MOOCs, the overlap in interests has grown still more, and yet the fragmentation between subfields continues.  

Considering the crossroads -- What we need to do is advance and integrate new theories, methods, and supportive technologies. One goal is to identify cross-cutting themes in CSCL research related to alternative Web 2.0 platforms. Another goal is to identify a strategic positioning for research in CSCL in synergy with the HCI/CSCW literature.

Tentative Schedule