This paper explores the emergence of joint problem solving in online environments where the participants work together but at different times and from different places. Collaborations of this sort have been referred to as loosely coupled collaborations. The focus is on venue which is the virtual substitute for physical copresence under these conditions. Venue is fundamentally a social construct. It functions to "localize" participation dynamics, communication and register, the creation and sharing of domain objects, and situation-dependent knowledge. Within venue, the reflective parts of joint problem solving become more prominent. Within venue, small teams of students align their views, coordinate their efforts, share their understanding and work, and jointly problem solve.