Refining collaborative learning strategies for reducing the technical requirements of web-based classroom management

When a web-based classroom teacher manages a web-based distance learning system, there can be a substantial burden of preparation work. Although an instructor may use various tools to manage the web-based classroom, an instructor also needs a web site manager to help him/her use tools such as web page access analysis. In fact, some of the more tedious work can be avoided by using appropriate collaborative learning strategies. However, the features of a conventional web-based distance learning system cannot fully support the characteristics of collaborative learning strategies. To resolve this problem, a web-based classroom teacher can use advanced technology for managing learners' portfolios, controlling learning flow and constructing collaborative learning activities. Another feasible solution is that a teacher can refine existing collaborative learning strategies for web features to reduce the requirements of the advanced technology. Furthermore, refining existing collaborative learning strategies can make it easier to implement them in a web-based classroom. Although there are methodologies for constructing web-based collaborative learning systems, none specifically address the possibility of refining collaborative learning strategies to work with web features. This paper surveys some notable collaborative learning strategies as well as proposing guidelines and recommendations for how a web-based classroom teacher can refine those strategies for use in a web-based classroom through our technical experience and perspective.