Integration of domain-specific elements into visual language based collaborative environments

Abstract

This paper presents an approach for the integration of domain related elements and operational semantics into collaborative environments based on visual languages. This integration allows for supporting domain specific collaborative tasks, e.g. in the area of "collaborative discovery learning" in science education, by integrating data modelling with generic discussion support. A special focus is set on flexibility and parameterisation of the system which is achieved through providing the syntax definition of the visual language as a separate resource file.