Facilitating Student Interaction Through Liking and Linking Tools in a Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Environment

• In Event: 73.061 - Roundtable Session 32
  In Roundtable Session: 73.061-4 - Advanced Technologies for Learning Roundtable

Abstract

A Like button and Linking tool were created to scaffold positive learner interactive behaviours in a CSCL environment, Pepper. A mixed-methods approach was used to examines the characteristics – discussion activity, note attributes, and cognitive complexity – of student notes. Notes were sorted into four categories: notes that received likes, notes that contained links to others’ notes, notes that are liked and link to others’ notes, and notes that were not liked nor linked to others’ notes. The findings suggest that the like and linking functions positively cultivated and sustained interactive behaviours amongst students, which also led to an increase in the cognitive complexity of student contributions to the online discussion. Suggestions for future iterations of this project are offered.

Authors

• Alexandra Makos, University of Toronto - OISE

• Kyungmee Lee, University of Toronto - OISE

• Daniel Zingaro, University of Toronto

• Jim Hewitt, OISE/University of Toronto