Computer-mediated environments provide an arena for learning to argue. We investigate to what extent student dyads’ online argumentation can be facilitated with collaboration scripts that (1) prompt learners to prepare individually, (2) create conflict, and (3) encourage productive collaboration and argumentation. A process analysis of the chats of the dyads showed that the scripted treatment group used significantly more words and broadened and deepened their discussions significantly more than the unscripted group. Qualitative analysis indicates that scripted learners engaged in more critical and objective argumentation than non-scripted learners.

Designing a computer-supported learning scenario involving a constructivist approach of learning lays on a paradox. On the one hand, learning flows must be precisely described - including role distribution, required resources, tools, and scaffolds - to be realized in computer-supported environments. On the other hand, a fine-grained formalization of learning flows diverges from the constructivist notion of learning that learners are responsible for their knowledge (co-)construction. This paper draws upon the fundaments of a new concept so called ldquolearning activity spacerdquo (LAS) aiming at realizing some necessary flexibility when designing learning scenarios. LAS is the basis of a graphical scenario modeling language intelligible for non-computer scientists but still rich enough in detail to describe a large set of computer-supported learning scenarios.

A crucial challenge for improving EMLs is to provide an intuitive notation to support educational practitioners to not only understand, but also describe a large number of flexible scenarios themselves. We present here the general outline of a graphical modeling language based on the concept of learning activity space (LAS) and its related editor so-called SCY-SE. The design stage of learning computer-supported scenarios can be facilitated by the use of LAS arrangements as improved in the context of an interdisciplinary European project named SCY (Science Created by You).