Emergent Behavior Interdependence in Distributed Team Collaborative Problem Solving

• In Event: 35.082 - Roundtable Session 14
  In Roundtable Session: 35.082-22 - Advances in Cooperative Learning

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to use descriptive case study to examine college students’ actual interdependent behaviors in solving an authentic engineering design problem within a distributed collaborative learning environment. Research has shown that high levels of task interdependence benefit learning and have positive effects on communication, interpersonal interactions, fostering individual responsibilities, and preventing productivity loss. However, tasks being structured interdependently do not necessarily result in students’ actual, interdependent behaviors. In addition, little research has been found to identify what specific interdependent behavior plays a pivotal role in the learning change. Results of this study will reveal two teams’ actual behaviors and provide evidence to explain why teams performed differently when they were given a same task and guidance.

Author

• Yiyan Wu, Syracuse University