There are a vast number of studies that examine narrowly focused aspects of collaborative activities. However, rare is the research that synthesizes the findings of these studies and suggests an overall picture of well-designed collaborative activities. Toward this end, this manuscript discusses the characteristics of collaboration related to communication, structure, group composition, and grounding. The design of a collaborative activity should allow for certain types of conversations, feedback, and questions. The structure of a collaborative activity should consider tasks, scripts, and roles. Group size and ability grouping are flexible based on the analyses conducted at the beginning of the design process. The social space should afford grounding by not only allowing for social interaction, but also by stimulating such interaction.<\/p>","DOI":"10.4018\/ijec.2014040104","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2014,9,8]],"date-time":"2014-09-08T14:00:09Z","timestamp":1410184809000},"page":"55-71","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Designing Collaborative Activities to Promote Understanding and Problem-Solving"],"prefix":"10.4018","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"Barbara M.","family":"Hall","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Education, Ashford University, San Diego, CA, USA"}]}],"member":"2432","reference":[{"key":"ijec.2014040104-0","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/01587910903023215"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-1","author":"A.Bandura","year":"1977","journal-title":"Principles of behavioral modification"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1207\/S15327809JLS1203_1"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.learninstruc.2007.04.002"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1008669710763"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-5","author":"B. S.Bloom","year":"1954","journal-title":"Taxonomy of educational objectives"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2009.08.030"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-8535.2008.00911.x"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/104649640103200401"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/10096-006"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.0266-4909.2001.00212.x"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-0663.71.1.64"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2004.10.023"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10648-010-9119-6"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0747-5632(01)00006-1"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-15","first-page":"275","article-title":"Designing integrative scripts","author":"J.Dillenbourg","year":"2007","journal-title":"Scripting computer-supported collaborative learning. Cognitive, computational and educational perspectives"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2729.2007.00191.x"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4018\/jec.2008100104"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1467-9280.00292"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4018\/jec.2007070104"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1207\/s15327809jls1403_3"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/08923640109527071"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0747-5632(01)00016-4"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/109493104323024465"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/00313830802628281"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tate.2009.10.025"},{"issue":"2","key":"ijec.2014040104-26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1083-6101.2005.tb00244.x","article-title":"A content analytic comparison of learning processes in online and face-to-face case study discussions.","volume":"10","author":"R.Heckman","year":"2005","journal-title":"Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1207\/s15327809jls1404_4"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0747-5632(01)00020-6"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2009.09.010"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1348\/000709909X402811"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2007.05.012"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-32","author":"D. W.Johnson","year":"1989","journal-title":"Cooperation and competition: Theory and research"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-33","author":"D. W.Johnson","year":"2000","journal-title":"Cooperative learning methods: A meta-analysis"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02504505"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2009.04.010"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/14703290252934603"},{"issue":"2","key":"ijec.2014040104-37","first-page":"131","article-title":"Reciprocal peer questioning.","volume":"4","author":"A.King","year":"1990","journal-title":"The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02504675"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11412-007-9014-4"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10648-006-9007-2"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0747-5632(02)00057-2"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-42","volume":"Vol. 2","author":"J. G.Kurfiss","year":"1988","journal-title":"Critical thinking Theory, research, practice, and possibilities"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.90.4.644"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-44","author":"J.Lave","year":"1990","journal-title":"Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-45","author":"K.M\u00e4kitalo-Siegl","year":"2009","journal-title":"Interaction in online learning environments: How to support collaborative activities in higher education settings"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4018\/jec.2008100103"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1008621827601"},{"issue":"1","key":"ijec.2014040104-48","first-page":"1","article-title":"Questioning the necessity of nonacademic social discussion forums within online courses.","volume":"10","author":"A.Pate","year":"2009","journal-title":"Quarterly Review of Distance Education"},{"issue":"3","key":"ijec.2014040104-49","first-page":"119","article-title":"Online learning: Patterns of engagement and interaction amongst in-service teachers.","volume":"7","author":"F.Pawan","year":"2003","journal-title":"Language Learning & Technology"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2729.2008.00287.x"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02504718"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-85098-1_5"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0883-0355(89)90018-9"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1348\/000709908X281619"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/87567550903418594"},{"issue":"3","key":"ijec.2014040104-56","first-page":"291","article-title":"Theoretical foundations for enhancing social interconnectedness in online learning environments.","volume":"30","author":"P. J.Slagter van Tryon","year":"2009","journal-title":"Distance Learning"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1086\/461739"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2003.10.004"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4018\/jec.2007100103"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4018\/jec.2007010102"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11423-007-9050-9"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-62","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compcom.2004.02.003"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02504514"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/03075070600680836"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-65","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Van der Pol, J., Admiraal, W. F., & Simons, P. R. J. (2003). Grounding in electronic discussions: Standard (threaded) versus anchored discussion. Paper presented at the Computer Supported Collaborative Learning Conference, Bergen, Norway.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-94-017-0195-2_11"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-66","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2007.09.005"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-67","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2008.06.001"},{"issue":"4","key":"ijec.2014040104-68","first-page":"56","article-title":"InstanceCollage: A tool for the particularization of collaborative IMS-LD scripts.","volume":"12","author":"E. D.Villasclaras-Fern\u00e1ndez","year":"2009","journal-title":"Journal of Educational Technology & Society"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-69","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.learninstruc.2008.03.001"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-70","author":"L.Vygotsky","year":"1978","journal-title":"Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-71","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0883-0355(03)00074-0"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-72","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11251-004-2322-4"},{"key":"ijec.2014040104-73","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5193\/JEE.32.3.226"}],"container-title":["International Journal of e-Collaboration"],"original-title":[],"language":"ng","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.igi-global.com\/viewtitle.aspx?TitleId=114173","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,2]],"date-time":"2022-06-02T03:53:16Z","timestamp":1654141996000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/services.igi-global.com\/resolvedoi\/resolve.aspx?doi=10.4018\/ijec.2014040104"}},"subtitle":[""],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2014,4,1]]},"references-count":74,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2014,4]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4018\/ijec.2014040104","relation":{},"ISSN":["1548-3673","1548-3681"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1548-3673","type":"print"},{"value":"1548-3681","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2014,4,1]]}}}