A design to promote group learning in e-learning: Experiences from the field

The Internet enables learners to be brought together where they can cooperate in learning in groups without space and time limitations. It is, however, quite a challenge to form ideal groups in a short time and ensure satisfactory interaction for learners in cyberspace. In this study, we propose a useful grouping method to help teachers improve group-learning in e-learning by first establishing effective groups with rules based on data ruining, and then facilitating student interaction using a system that monitors members' communication status. Field observations and quantitative evidence show the validity and practicability of the proposed method. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.