An attempt to design synchronous collaborative learning environments for peer dyads on the world wide web

This article describes the design, implementation, and preliminary evaluation of three synchronous distributed learning prototype systems. Each of these systems supports a particular style of interaction, referred to as a socio-activity learning model, between members of student dyads (pairs). The first two systems, Co-Working System and Working Along System, are realizations of two basic models of collaborative, one-on-one, synchronous, and networked learning, while the third one, the Hybrid System, is a combined model of the two. This work intends to identify a set of domain independent tools necessary for these models and collect information for future development through some preliminary evaluation of some experimental trials of these systems. All these systems were implemented on WWW using the computer language Java.