POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF A COMPUTER SUPPORTED COOPERATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WITHIN A SPATIALLY DISTRIBUTED PRACTICAL TRAINING

The multi-medial integration of text, image, audio and video data in computer networks has many fields of application (Grimes and Potel 1991). Whereas "Computer Supported Cooperative Work" (Kremar 1991) concerns the methods used in collective data processing, "Computer Supported Cooperative Learning" refers to the integration of these methods into teaching and learning environments. A so-called "reformed" degree course in "Computer Science and Communications Engineering" is due to begin at the Gerhard Mercator University of Duisburg, initially as a pilot project, in the winter semester of 1997. This degree course is being financed by the "Federal Ministry for Education, Science, Research and Technology" and is aimed at students of all nationalities. The course will include a number of innovations within the German university system. Owing to its reformatory character, the degree course will in itself become an object of study during its five-year pilot phase. A further aim is to develop and gain experience in applying new teaching concepts. This paper will present an initial concept for the realisation of an innovative multi-medial teaching and learning environment for the subject of "Software Engineering". The teaching programme will comprise a weekly two-hour theory lecture as well as completing six hours of practical training per week. This paper will present the teaching and learning framework for the practical module.