Supporting collaborative learning through the use of electronic conversational props

Abstract

Abstract. This paper explores the use of electronic 'conversational props' to facilitate collaborative learning. Model-Based Communication (MBC), a technology that links application views, video and text messages --these application views are props for the conversation encoded in the messages --has been applied to the educational domain, the resulting application is called Media Fusion. This paper describes an ethnographic study of Media Fusion, where students in California and Washington D.C. used Media Fusion to explore and collaborate around issues concerning global warming~