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Honing in on Social Learning in MOOC Forums: Examining Critical Network Definition Decisions
Alyssa Wise, Yi Cui, Wan Qi JinLAK’17, March 2017, Vancouver, CANADA
Investigation of the interaction practices in large-scale learning environments based on analysis of the artifacts left behind by learners’ and instructors’ activity.
MOOCEOLOGY
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QUESTIONS DATA METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSION
RQ1: What effects do different tie definitions have on network characteristics?
RQ2: In what ways do unpartitioned, content-related, and non-content social networks show distinct characteristics?
RQ3: What differences in the discussion interactions may account for the distinctions between networks?
Research Questions
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Learning Context & Data • A MOOC on statistics in medicine
• 3-level posting structure
• Forums facilitated by 2 instructional team members
• 567 users
• 817 threads containing 3124 posts 4
QUESTIONS DATA METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSION
Content-based Partitioning• Content-related = Q&As/comments related to the course subject • Non-Content = Others (logistical & technical Q&As, socilizing) • Method: Dynamic Interrelated Post and Thread Categorization
(Cui, Jin, & Wise, in press), est. accuracy = .88
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Non-content
Content-re-lated
Threads
468 threads
349 threadsContent-related activities
17831%
Both15728%
Non-content activities 23241%
PARTICIPANTS
QUESTIONS DATA METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSION
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Direct Reply Star Direct Reply + Star
Limited Copresence
Total Copresence
RQ1: Tie Definition Effects
QUESTIONS DATA METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSION
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Tie Definition Effects - Resulting Network Properties
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Avg node degree
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Content-related network(# of nodes = 335, # of edges = 848)
Non-content network(# of nodes = 389, # of edges = 724)
RQ2 & 3: Content vs Non-Content Networks
Content-related Non-content
QUESTIONS DATA METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSION
CL1 NL1 NL20123456789
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Avg node degree
CL1 NL1 NL202468
10121416
Avg edge weight
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Learner Modules
CL = Content-related Learner Module NL = Non-content learner module
CL1(# of nodes = 23, # of edges =57)
NL1(# of nodes = 62, # of edges =71)
NL1(# of nodes = 23, # of edges = 28)
QUESTIONS DATA METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSION
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Content vs Non-Content Discussions1. Thread Characteristics
Content-related Module 1
Non-content Module 1
Non-content Module 2
# of contributing threads 30 2 11
Avg # of posts per participant in thread 2.41 (1.62) 1.13 (0.07) 1.42 (0.53)
Avg # of posts per thread (SD) 13.4 (14.85) 6, 93 6 (5.75)
2. Activity characteristics: content-related activities involved more• complicated topics• interaction techniques • social presence cues
QUESTIONS DATA METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSION
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U225: Congrats [u10]! Yes, it has been hard, but fun, and we learned an awful lot, right?U110: Great! Everyone it was a pleasure to work with you. Thank you….U10: YES [u225]! And [u110] - the test was scary - I thought of my discussion board friends often!!U216: Thanks, thanks so much to [u10], [u152], [u110], [u225] and everybody who helped us to understand this beautiful course! And in my case also for writing many posts, I see I have improved my English skills and my statistics vocabulary!!!U225: [u10], [u216], [u152], [u110], [u515] and everyone, your discussions helped me so much. I was always a few days behind you in homework - glad I was able to catch up in the last weeks and participate a little bit….
Content-related learner module 1
Examining Learner Interaction
U225: [u10], [u216], [u152], [u110], [u515] and everyone, your discussions helped me so much. I was always a few days behind you in homework - glad I was able to catch up in the last weeks and participate a little bit….
U10: YES [U225]! And [u110] - the test was scary - I thought of my discussion board friends often!!
QUESTIONS DATA METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSION
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CI1 CI2 NI1 NI2
# of nodes (% in network) 184 (54.93%) 75 (22.39%) 168 (43.19%) 47 (12.08%)
# of edges (% in network) 400 (47.17%) 105 (12.38%) 315 (43.51%) 55 (7.6%)
Avg node degree (SD) 4.35 (11.06) 2.8 (7.56) 3.75 (11.18) 2.34 (6.03)
Avg edge weight (SD) 2.23 (3.21) 1.83 (1.72) 2.11 (2.48) 1.20 (0.44)
Instructor Modules
CI = Content-related instructor module NI = Non-content instructor module
CI1 CI2 NI1 NI2
QUESTIONS DATA METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSION
U1 • Responses at all levels• Coaching and supporting • Social presence cues
U417• Responses to thread starters• Straight forward answers • Little social presence
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Comparing Intervention Approaches
QUESTIONS DATA METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSION
“Think about it again using the hint and let me know if you have any other questions.”
“That is correct - Nice! So how would you use this to solve the question?”
“A bell shape is not necessary. You could have a 'bimodal' distribution where the two groups do not follow a bell shape.”
Conclusions• Tie definition affects network and interpretation.
• Content-related and non-content networks had distinct characteristics.
• Content-related discussions led to wider and deeper learner connection; instructor’s intervention approach may also affect it.
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QUESTIONS DATA METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSION