Research in the field indicates several advantages, including that it: Despite the potential advantages of using CSCL to overcome the barriers of face-to-face prejudice, develop social skills, and increase cognitive flexibility, simply adding CSCL to a communicative situation does not automatically foster trust nor resolve intercultural issues.
This includes that: Although there are many benefits to using CSCL, especially in language learning contexts, teachers must approach its adoption with clear goals and objectives.
[23] In terms of its application CSCL is not appropriate for short-term projects,[24] and teachers should expect to spend a considerable amount of extra management time in roles such as mediators, monitors, and facilitators.
[26] CSCL requires instructional scaffolding to accommodate different levels of foreign language ability[27] as well as concrete and structured exercises that are built in during the team formation stage.
[29] Despite these challenges, CSCL may prove to be a superior tool through which teachers can foster greater understanding between their students and members of other cultures.