Common ground can be efficiently achieved by capturing a screenshot in handheld-based learning activity

Constructing common ground and the associated convergent conceptual change is critical to collaborative learning. Convergent conceptual change is achieved as participants in a conversation update common ground through presentations, repairs, and acceptances of utterances. Many previous studies in human-computer interaction show that face-to-face communication is more effective than other forms of technology-mediated collaboration, such as video conferencing or telephoning, primarily because such forms of communication cannot fully replicate the context so vital to common understanding. To meet these concerns while enabling the use of handhelds, we devise and test empirically the value of shared visual context in creating common ground by examining communication efficiency.