A lot of empirical results show that graphical representation enhances the understanding of information. In addition to previous advantages of mapping, cooperative mapping increases learning success with the advantages of cooperative learning. Cooperation provides multiple perspectives, unhindered exchange of concepts and the possibility to explore new ideas together, to prove existing suggestions and avoid the development of misinterpretations. Learning by cooperative problem solving promotes motivation and can extend learning resources. Not only problem solving can be a task for distance learning, also collaborative reflection and discussion.
Students can reflect on different models, articles, etc.
Requirements For Internet-Based Mapping. It should be possible for one person to write a text while the other drags some node. It should also be possible for a moderator of the cooperation environment to set up nodes and relations for the users and to set up some pre-inscribed objects. Finally, everyone of the cooperating group should be able to edit the map, but only the group members and maybe the moderator. Audio or videoconferencing enhance the communication, but at the moment the bandwidth of the Internet hinders this, but nevertheless one should keep this possibility in mind.