Can a CSCL environment promote effective interaction?

The use of technology to support collaborative tasks and learning is at present one of the central themes of research into computer education. Recent experiences have demonstrated that computer-mediated peer interaction is in some contexts more effective than face-to-face communication. The present work aims to make a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the peer-to-peer communication fostered by the use of a Web-based environment to support cooperative learning of geometry. In line with other experiences conducted internationally, our results confirm that the use of technological support to stimulate communication has positive effects not only on the quality of the interaction but also on the quality of the learning gain of the individual members making up the cooperative community.