SAILE, the Synchronous and Asynchronous Interactive Learning Environment program, and its Asynchronous Replay Tool, ART, can help provide a general approach to sharing tools and promoting collaborative learning and problem-solving.

SAILE is composed of a text chat tool that allows users to communicate, a palette to place any Java applications to be shared, a Java RMI server for managing the collaborative connection between users, and the Asynchronous Replay Tool (ART). ART allows an asynchronous learner and problem-solver to become a full participant in a collaborative learning or problem-solving session.

ART provides an opportunity to move beyond time and physical location barriers. Synchronous learners and problem solvers can work on-line together and still reach out beyond the current session to other learners or experts. The synchronous group can use ART to record their interactions, and they can add annotations to their recorded interactions pointing out particular events or questions to their missing colleagues. The recorded session can be emailed to asynchronous users for later replay. The asynchronous group can review the work of the earlier group. They can add their own comments about earlier actions. The group can demonstrate alternative actions by branching off the replay path at some point during the replay. They can continue the problem-solving activity if it was not completed in an earlier session. Learning and problem-solving could carry on this way until all parties are satisfied with the end result of their efforts.