Learning and teaching in a synchronous collaborative environment

Abstract Despite obvious domination of asynchronous collaborative technologies, especially for virtual classrooms and distance educa-tion, the work presented in this paper is based on the assumption that some students will still prefer the experience of on-campus, face-to-face collaborative learning. For those students a new synchronous collaborative environment is created by combining an innovative methodology for ‘same-time, same-place ’ interactive learning and the technology called Group Support Systems which is designed to provide not only communication but rather computer-mediated col-laboration. This paper introduces this learning methodology and il-lustrates its potential to improve critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills of all students who are stimulated to par-ticipate as equal learners. It also describes how teachers are trans-formed from ‘information delivery specialists ’ to guides and facilitators of learning