Apart from studying students' interaction in Web-based environments in computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL), it is essential to recognize the importance of the contextual setting in which learning takes place. This study examines the role of face-to-face encounters as contextual support in an international teacher education course based on a pedagogical model--shared perspectives in virtual environments (SHAPE) [Interact. Learn. Environ. 10 (2002) 1]. Small-group collaborative interactions with face-to-face encounters were videotaped and analyzed by placing the episodes into six categories: explaining, sharing knowledge, providing critique, reflection, joint engagement, and off-task interactions. Additionally students' Web-based activity examined was the in relation to their face-to-face encounters. The findings show that the students were engaged in a rich variety of interactions during the face-to-face encounters and the students' activity in the Web-based environment remained on the same level throughout the course. (Contains 3 figures and 1 table.)