Student communities for the advancement of knowledge

The central purpose of computer-supported intentional learning environments (CSILE) is to make knowledge building an integral part of schooling. In order for this to occur, the character of classroom discourse needs to undergo radical change. CSILE has been designed as a computer-supported environment in which collaborative discourse is the primary medium for knowledge advancement. Students identify and pursue issues of understanding and engage in the kinds of dialogue used by workers in the sciences and in other dynamic, knowledgeable advancing organizations. The focus is on collective responsibility and continual advancement of ideas in a student-generated database.