Computer Education Support: Knowledge Forum (CSILE)

Knowledge Forum or as it was previously known as CSILE (Computer Supported Intentional Learning Environments) functions as a "collaborative learning environment" and a communal database, with both text and graphics capabilities. This networked multimedia environment lets students generate "notes," containing an idea or piece of information relevant to the topic under study.

Notes are available for other students to comment upon, leading to dialogues and an accumulation of knowledge. Students have to label their notes in order to be able to store and retrieve them; over time, they come to appreciate the value of a precise, descriptive label. In addition to receiving writing practice as they create their own notes, students get practice reading the notes generated by others.

CSILE was developed by Marlene Scardamalia and Carl Bereiter at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. It has been used in Jefferson County public Schools for 15 years.

Here is a link to a pdf file of an article on Knowledge Building.

Click here for a movie about Knowledge Forum.

To see a Knowledge Forum database, please follow this link to the Knowledge Forum site in Jefferson County Public Schools. http://kfcsile.jefferson.k12.ky.us:27320

Select Jaeger Education Center from the drop down list of databases.
Log in as Guest1 through Guest10
Password being the same as the username

For more information please contact
Bill DeSanctis: 485-3912 (bill.desanctis@jefferson.kyschools.us)
Steve Swan: 485-3914 (steve.swan@jefferson.kyschools.us)

Last Update: 4/3/2008

Computer Education Support

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