Poster #59 - Emergent Leadership in Student-Led Collaborative Activity in a School-Based Makerspace

• In Event: 75.043 - MTCC Poster Session 17
  In Poster Session: 75.043-9 - Learning and Motivational Dynamics in Social and Cultural Contexts

Abstract

In this study, we analyzed how emergent leadership mediates student-led collaboration in a novel school-based makerspace. We follow a theoretical framework wherein collaboration is viewed from the perspective of content and relational space (Barron 2003). The data consists of video recordings of five groups of four students from grades four to six (age 9-12). Both content and relational leadership moves could be detected. The former consisted mostly of providing new solutions and the latter of planning and organizing joint work. The study also shows how the students’ use of leadership moves contributed to their roles as leaders and followers of collaborative work. Flexibility in the roles of leaders and followers advanced collaboration both in terms of content and relation building.

Authors

• Jasmiina Korhonen, University of Helsinki

• Kristiina P. Kumpulainen, University of Helsinki

• Anu Kajamaa, University of Helsinki

• Antti Juhani Rajala, University of Oulu