Factors influencing the success of computer mediated communication (CMC) environments in university teaching: a review and case study

Despite its potential benefits, the effectiveness of CMC when used to suppo rt learning in higher education is very variable, making it important to id entify those factors which best predict successful implementations. A revie w of the literature from the past few years, presented in the first half of this paper, suggests that, consistent with Activity Theory (Leont'ev,A.N. (1981). Problems of the development of the mind. Moscow: Progress), the cri tical factors are those which provide a context and rationale for online co mmunication by helping users to establish a shaved purpose. However, genera ting empirical support for this hypothesis presents two kinds of methodolog ical problem: specifying the methods and measures necessary to discern the existence and impact of shared purpose; and dealing with the difficulties o f making controlled comparisons in this area. The second half of the paper illustrates, via an implementation case study, something of how these metho dological problems might be resolved, and presents evidence in favour of th e central importance of shared purpose. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.