The Nature of Peer-Peer Interaction in Internet-Supported Collaboration: A Case Study in Freshman English Class in Taiwan

Virtual Brief Paper ID: 44904
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    Yi Chin Hsieh
    Indiana University at Bloomington, IN

Abstract: The prevalence of Internet access in the classroom has created a powerful learning environment. The combination of technology and collaboration is receiving research attention. This study explores learners’ patterns of interaction in an Internet-supported collaborative setting by looking at learners’ interaction with peers and online resources. The participants were 70 freshman students from a national university in Taiwan. They constructed two English essays in pairs in two settings, without Internet and with Internet access. Storch’s (2002a) framework of interaction was used to analyze the interaction data. The findings show how most of the pairs’ collaborative interaction was reinforced by the support of online resources and how the dynamics of scaffolding among the peers changed. It is important for teachers and researchers to evaluate the role computers play in language learning collaboration. The study provides insights into technology integration into collaborative learning.

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