1 Collaborative Web-sites for English Composition Jochen Rick, Mark Guzdial, Karen Carroll College of Computing Georgia Institute of Technology Lissa Holloway-Attaway, Brandy Walker School of Literature, Communications, and Culture Georgia Institute of Technology Abstract CoWeb is a collaborative learning environment used in many classes at Georgia Institute of Technology. We present evidence of the success of the tool in supporting learning at a low cost in one environment (freshman-level English class). Furthermore, we cite evidence of active resistance to collaboration in other domains (such as engineering and mathematics) that make it difficult to achieve the same effects there. Introduction CoWeb (Collaborative Web-site) provides an extremely simple model for collaboration (on-line, asynchronous). It is a web-site where (to oversimplify) each page is editable by simply clicking an Edit button on the page and new pages can be created by simply referencing them in the page's text. Through over a dozen iterations in the last three years, CoWeb has had features added and the interface streamlined to fit well into classroom use [2]. Over 100 class CoWebs are now in use at Georgia Tech. A wide variety of educational activities have been invented by teachers for their classes [3], and we have catalogued some 25 core activities that we see tailored to meet specific class needs [4]. This study examines the use of CoWeb in freshman-level English classes and considers its use in other classes. In particular, we want to show both learning and cost effectiveness. By engaging students in collaboration, we can leverage the large numbers in classes to create greater opportunities for discussion, reflection, and (consequently) learning. Because the increased opportunity for learning is coming from the students themselves, the cost for the institution does not need to rise any further than simply providing oversight for the process. Thus, for relatively low costs (cost efficiency), significant improvement can be made in class performance (learning efficiency). Learning Effectiveness Learning effectiveness is the amount learned in relation to the cost for achieving that learning (i.e. time on task). In this section, we show our evidence for learning through use of CoWeb. Then, in the next section, we show that this learning benefit is achievable at a low cost. To do this, we studied two sections of an English 101 1 class, taught by the same teacher. The first section (n = 24) used CoWeb to complete various assignments 2 . The comparison section (n = 25) did the same activities, but the students work individually: highlighting text in the prose, adding margin notes. As the same activities were done by each section, student cost (effort) is near identical. In English composition, CoWeb is used for an activity called close reading, where a prose or poem for discussion is posted, and students comment upon by inserting links directly into the prose or poem. Students then comment upon each others' comments, and even use the same technique to comment upon each others' essays. 1 English 101 is a fictional course number, but the course is the Georgia Tech version of English 101. 2 The CoWeb section was chosen at random and students did not know a priori which section would used CoWeb, so selection bias was minimized.