Basic Study for teaching method and learning environment to utilize computer network in higher education

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The introductory course entitled "Group Communication" was observed from the various viewpoints such as intra-group activities, inter-group activities with both respects of CMC(Computer mediated Communication) and FTF(Face-t-face)communications at the well equipped dijital campus of Keio University at Shohnan Fujisawa. The class analized runs 13 weeks from September to January in 1999-2001. The number of participants was 45 in 1999, 62 in 2000 and 15 in 2001. The goal of the course for students was to acquire the knowledge on the human aspect of group communications through the process of in-group and inter-group activities with both aspects on-line and off-line communication. A mailing list was offered to each group as an learning resources for enhancing (the environmental factors )as one of for effective CMC group communications outside the classroom.Not only educational environment such as computer network system but also teaching and learning method including content of learning and instructional design are most crucial factor for making collaborative group learning and distributed CSCL(Computer supported Collaborative Learning) more effective. It should be designed in order to promote and motivate participants to group activities in computer network settings that well structured teaching strategic planning such as Aronson's Jigsaw Classroom which we call as meta-group meeting sessions.