Technology affordances for intersubjective meaning making: A research agenda for CSCL

11 Abstract Now well into its second decade, the field of Computer Supported 12 Collaborative Learning (CSCL) appears healthy, encompassing a diversity of topics 13 of study, methodologies, and representatives of various research communities. It is 14 an appropriate time to ask: what central questions can integrate our work into a 15 coherent field? This paper proposes the study of technology affordances for 16 intersubjective meaning making as an integrating research agenda for CSCL. A 17 brief survey of epistemologies of collaborative learning and forms of computer 18 support for that learning characterize the field to be integrated and motivate the 19 proposal. A hybrid of experimental, descriptive and design methodologies is 20 proposed in support of this agenda. A working definition of intersubjective meaning 21 making as joint composition of interpretations of a dynamically evolving context is 22 provided, and used to propose a framework around which dialogue between analytic 23 approaches can take place.