Skip to main content
Log in

Design Principles for Distributed Knowledge Building Processes

  • Published:
Educational Psychology Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper we explore various interpretations of the term “distributed cognition,” then turn our attention to communities grounded in the practice of collaborative knowledge building. We discuss CSILE (Computer-Supported Intentional Learning Environments), a technology designed to support contributions to a communal database. Shared responsibility for this community resource extends to aspects of school practice typically handled exclusively by teachers, and engagement in improving and connecting the contents of the database makes the process of knowledge building self-sustaining. We discuss knowledge building communities involving students and teachers, and end with discussion of design principles for distributed knowledge building processes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Anderson, J. R., Reder, L. M., and Simon, H. A. (1995). Applications and Misapplications of Cognitive Psychology to Mathematics Education. Unpublished manuscript. (http://www.psy.cmu.edu/~mm4b/misapplied.html)

  • Anderson, J., Reder, L. and Simon, H. (1996). Situated learning and education. Educ. Res. 25(4): 5–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bereiter, C., and Scardamalia, M. (1996). Rethinking learning. In Olson, D., and Torrance, N. (eds.), Handbook of Education and Human Development: New Models of Learning, Teaching and Schooling Basil Blackwell, Cambridge, MA:, pp. 483–513.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. S., Collins, A., and Duguid, P. (1989). Situated cognition and the culture of learning. Educ. Res. 18: 32–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carraher, T. N., Carraher, D. W., and Schliemann, A. D. (1985). Mathematics in the streets and in the schools. Brit. J. Devel. Psychol. 3: 21–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, H. H., and Brennan, S. E. (1991). Grounding in communication. In Resnick, L. B., Levine, J. M., and Teasley, S. D. (eds.), Perspectives on Socially Shared Cognition, American Psychological Association, Washington D.C., pp. 127–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, H. H., and Schaefer, E. F. (1989). Contributing to discourse. Cogn. Sci. 13: 259–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, H. H., and Wilkes-Gibbs, D. (1986). Referring as a collaborative process. Cognition 22: 1–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cobb, P. (1994). Where Is the Mind? Constructivist and Sociocultural Perspectives on Mathematical Development. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, April.

  • Collins, A., Brown, J. S., and Newman, S. E. (1989). Cognitive Apprenticeship: Teaching the crafts of reading, writing, and mathematics. In Resnick, L. B. (ed.), Knowing, Learning and Mnstruction: Essays in Honor of Robert Glaser Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, NJ, pp. 453–494.

    Google Scholar 

  • Damon, W. (1991). Problems of direction in socially shared cognition. In Resnick, L. B., Levine, J. M., and Teasley, S. D. (eds.), Perspectives on Socially Shared Cognition, American Psychological Association, Washington D.C., pp. 384–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feenberg, A. (1987). Computer conferencing and the humanities. Instr. Sci. 16(2): 169–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greeno, J. G. (1997). Response: On claims that answer the wrong questions. Educ. Res. 26(1): 5–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harasim, L. (1990). Online education: An environment for collaboration and intellectual amplification. In Harasim, L. (ed.), Online Education: Perspectives on a New Environment, Praeger Publishers, New York: p. 39–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatch, T., and Gardner, H. (1993). Finding cognition in the classroom: An expanded view of human intelligence. In Salomon, G. (ed.), Distributed Cognitions. Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt, J. (1996). Progress Toward a Knowledge-Building Community. Doctoral Thesis. University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt, J., and Webb, J. (1995). Knowledge Map Research Report. Unpublished manuscript.

  • Lave, J. (1988). Cognition in Practice: Mind, Mathematics and Culture in Everyday Life, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lave, J., and Wenger, E. (1991). Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, R., and Kaye, T. (1990). Toward a new paradigm for distance education. In Harasim, L. (ed.), Online Education: Perspectives on a New Environment, Praeger Publishers, New York, pp. 15–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyake, N. (1986). Constructive interaction and the iterative process of understanding. Cogn. Sci. 10: 151–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, D., Griffin, P., and Cole, M. (1989). The Construction Zone: Working for Cognitive Change in School Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nickerson, R. (1993). On the distribution of cognition: some reflections. In Salomon, G. (ed.), Distributed Cognitions, Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norman, D. (1988). The Psychology of Everyday Things Basic Books, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pea, R. (1993). Practices of distributed intelligence and designs for education. In Salomon, G. (ed.), Distributed Cognitions Cambridge University Press, New York, pp. 47–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perkins, D. N. (1993). Person-plus: A distributed view of thinking and learning. In Salomon, G. (ed.), Distributed Cognitions, Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 88–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Resnick, M. (1991). Beyond the centralized mindset. In Birnbaum, L. (ed.), Proceedings of the International Conferences on the Learning Sciences Northwestern University Press, Evanston, Illinois, pp. 389–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salomon, G. (1993). No distribution without individuals” cognition: A dynamic interactional view. In Salomon, G. (ed.), Distributed Cognitions Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 111–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salomon, G. (1995). Unorthodox Thoughts on the Nature and Mission of Contemporary Psychology. Paper presented at the American Psychological Association, New York.

  • Scardamalia, M., and Bereiter, C. (1991). Higher levels of agency for children in knowledge-building: A challenge for the design of new knowledge media. J. Learn. Sci. 1(1): 38–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scardamalia, M., and Bereiter, C. (1994). Computer support for knowledge-building communities. J. Learn. Sci. 3(3): 265–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scardamalia, M., and Bereiter, C. (1997). Adaptation and understanding: A case for new cultures of schooling. In Vosniadou, S., Corte, E. D., Glaser, R., and Mandl, H. (eds.), International Perspectives on the Psychological Foundations of Technology-Based Learning Environments.

  • Scardamalia, M., Bereiter, C., McLean, R., Swallow, J., and Woodruff, E. (1989). Computer-supported intentional learning environments. J. Educ. Comput. Res. 5(1): 51–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scardamalia, M., Bereiter, C., Brett, C., Burtis, P. J., Calhoun, C., and Smith Lea, N. (1992). Educational applications of a networked communal database. Interact. Learn. Environ. 2(1): 45–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scribner, S. (1984). Studying working intelligence. In Rogoff, B. and Lave, J. (eds.), Everyday Cognition: Its Development in Social Context Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind and Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hewitt, J., Scardamalia, M. Design Principles for Distributed Knowledge Building Processes. Educational Psychology Review 10, 75–96 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022810231840

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022810231840

Navigation