Many of the strengths and challenges of collaborative learning apply both in face-to-face or online learning contexts. It could be argued that there is no or little difference between online collaborative learning and well-conducted traditional classroom, discussion-based teaching.
Learner support focuses on forms of assistance to learners beyond the delivery of content, skill development, or formal assessment.
Scaffolding is usually a means of individualizing the learning, which enables student differences in learning to be better accommodated as they occur.
It is essential right at the start of a course for the instructor to make it clear to students what is expected of them when they are studying online whether in a blended or fully online course.
