Team learning through computer supported collaborative design

Colleges and universities have not traditionally edu­ cated their students in the benefits and techniques of collaboration. Rather traditional education has exalted the genius of the solitary scholar. Modem times de­ mand otherwise of us, and educators must learn them­ selves how to teach collaboration. This is nowhere more evident than in the "design disciplines," those whose practitioners spend substantial portions of their professional lives designing things. These include en­ gineers (mechanical, electrical, civil, software, etc.), architects, and writers. This paper discusses the nature of collaboration in the design disciplines and describes innovations and studies in collaborative design education in which the authors are involved. A venue for collaborative design education and research is described as well.