In April 1993, an interdisciplinary NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "Collaborative dialogue technologies in distance learning" was held in Segovia, Spain. The workshop brought together researchers in fields related to distance learning using computer-mediated communication. The statement of justification of the NATO ARW follows hereafter. Justification of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Collaborative Dialogue Technologies in Distance Learning Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) systems have features that reduce some temporal, physical and social constraints on communication. Theories of communication have shifted from viewing communication as a linear transmission of messages by a sender to a receiver, to viewing it as a social paradigm, where individuals are actors in a network of interdependent relationships embedded in organizational and social structures. Recent research focuses on models of information-sharing to support not only the activities of individuals but also the problem-solving activities of groups, such as decision-making, planning or co­ writing. This area of research is called Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). The Artificial Intelligence (AI) approach uses knowledge-based systems to enhance and facilitate all these processes, including the possibility of using natural language. The traditional model of distance education places a strong emphasis on indepen­ dent study, supported by well developed learning materials. This model can be characterized as one-way media. However, the potential of CMC to provide better guidance to the student in Higher Distance Education has been quickly recognized for at least two kind of activities: information sharing and interaction.

Inhalt

1 A Pedagogical Framework for CMC Programmes.- 2 Computer Support for Collaboration.- 3 Some Pedagogical Techniques for Computer-Mediated Communication.- 4 Learning in Groups: Some Experiences of Online Work.- 5 Learning Experiences with Collaborative Working Technologies: Some Critical Factors.- 6 Towards Collaborative Learning at a Distance.- 7 An Experimental Network-Mediated Study Support System in Higher Distance Education.- 8 Innovative Support Technologies for Tele- and Team-Work at Universities.- 9 Remote Collaboration in Medicine: Some Tools and Experiences in Portugal.- 10 Models and Systems for Collaborative Dialogues in Distance Learning.- 11 Cooperative Open Systems Architecture.- 12 The Role of Knowledge Based Systems for Automatic Coordination in Distance Learning.- 13 Supporting Collaborative Dialogues in Distance Learning.- 14 Towards Models of Interaction Between an Artificial Agent and a Human One.- 15 The "Natural Laboratory" Methodology Supporting Computer Mediated Generic Dialogues.- 16 Building an Evolving Knowledge-Base from Computer Teleconferencing.- 17 Educational Scenarios for Telecommunication Applications.- 18 Developing a Tool to Support Collaborative Dialogues and Graphical Representation of Ideas.- 19 Real-Time Multimedia Conferencing System and Collaborative Learning.- 20 Distributed Multimedia Environment for Distance Learning.- 21 Production of Flexible and Modulized Course Material in COSYS.- 22 OSCAR: A System for Collaborative Distributed Authoring of Multimedia Training Materials.- List of Contributors.