Decades of research have shown that student collaboration in groups doesn't just happen; rather it needs to be a deliberate process facilitated by the instructor. Promoting collaboration in virtual learning environments presents a variety of challenges. This book answers the demand for a thorough resource on techniques to facilitate effective collaborative learning in virtual environments. This book provides must-have information on the role of the instructor in computer-supported collaborative learning, real-world perspectives on virtual learning group collaboration, and supporting learning group motivation. This book contains fourteen chapters: (1) Designing Web-Based Training Courses to Maximize Learning (Traci Sitzmann, Katherine Ely, and Robert Wisher); (2) Collaborative versus Cooperative Learning: The Instructor's Role in Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (Orlando J. Olivares); (3) Developing a Community of Practice in an Online Research Lab (Stephanie W. Cawthon and Alycia L. Harris); (4) The Case Method and Collaborative Learning (Stephanie L. Brooke); (5) Preparing Online Instructors: Beyond Using the Technology (Evelyn S. Johnson and Jane Pitcock); (6) Collaborative Work in Online Learning Environments: Critical Issues, Dynamics and Challenges (Erman Yukselturk and Kursat Cagiltay); (7) The Social Psychology of On-line Collaborative Learning: The Good, the Bad, and the Awkward (Donna Ashcraft and Thomas Treadwell); (8) Collaborative Learning Among Faculty: Using Course Management Systems to Support Faculty Development (Ellen L. Nuffer); (9) Development of Online Distributed Training: Practical Considerations and Lessons Learned (Eileen B. Entin, Jason Sidman, and Lisa Neal); (10) Gender and Diversity in Collaborative Virtual Teams (Anna Michailidou and Anastasios Economides); (11) Student Motivation in International Collaboration: To Participate or Not to Participate? (Janice Whatley, Elena Zaitseva, and Danuta Zakrzewska); (12) Help Me, Help You: A Triple Track Approach to Maximizing Collaborative Learning in Complex, Cross-National Virtual Teams (Derrick L. Cogburn and Nanette S. Levinson); (13) Developing Shared Mental Models in Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (Marissa L. Shuffler and Gerald F. Goodwin); and (14) Practical Strategies for Assessing the Quality of Collaborative Learner Engagement (John LeBaron and Carol Bennett).