The problem / intent

Every technology has a learning cost. Sometimes the most advanced communication and collaboration technologies fail to catch on becuase users are reluctent to invest the effort requiered to master them.

The context

This pattern is a high-level principle of Interaction design. It is not specific to mathematical content or Games but is relevant to many enviroments which support these.
It assumes an Educational Context which combines individual student to PC activity with collaberative groups work.
The Software Design is oriented towards web browser Platforms.

The pattern

Users are often reluctant to engage in on-line communication because they feel unconfident with the medium. This barrier can be easily overcome by learning to master the medium, but that requiers an effort which is hard to motivate until the medium is used and its advantages percieved.

To break this cycle, design the medium so that it has clear advantages as an individual tool, regardless of communication. Users will learn to use it in this functionality, and gradualy shift to a more collaborative mode.

Related patterns

Leads to: Narrative spaces
Follows: Purpose and utility
Elaborated by: Controlled exposure

Notes

While it may seem odd at first to design a collaborative tool for personal use, many technologies we use have this property. The idea is similar to sending an email to yourself in order to share a file between home and office.

Examples

• WebLabs participants used WebReports first as a personal repository and note taking tool, then as a communitation and collaboration platform.