Computer-supported cooperative education to support development in South Africa

Abstract

With the enormous educational backlogs in South Africa it seems that there is no choice other than searching for alternative, technology-based ways for improving the existing educational situation. This paper describes three case studies in which cooperative learning and computer-supported cooperative learning in support of education and training, are explored. The interest in computer-supported cooperative education is a potential vehicle for introducing information technology to support development through education and training in South Africa. It is argued that, with this information technology intervention, there exists a possibility to make a positive contribution to parallel development. The results of the presented case studies will surely not solve the educational problems in South Africa. However, the learning opportunities embedded in these cases could provide valuable insight in the eventual proposed framework for the implementation of computer­-supported cooperative education on a national basis.