Computer‐Mediated Communication (CMC) systems have been described and evaluated in a number of ways by different researchers in the field. This paper proposes that computer conferencing systems should be designed to encourage students to participate in three dimensions previously treated by separate researchers. These can be summarized as a knowledge dimension, a social dimension and a motivational dimension. This paper reports on how one particular conference, that of M205‐STILE, was constructed to take account of these dimensions and to facilitate students’ computer‐supported cooperative learning
