Exploratory Research Application of Epistemic Network Analysis for Examining International Virtual Collaborative STEM Learning

• In Event: 25.084 - MTCC Roundtable Session Seven
  In Roundtable Session: 25.084-9 - International Networks for Teaching and Learning

Abstract

This project involves an international network of youth participants collaborating on STEM topics in a digital makerspace environment. Epistemic network analysis (ENA), a tool in quantitative ethnography, was used in exploratory research to examine the relationships between constructs that arose from the reflective interview data of participants. The results identified strong connections between self-awareness and two key motivational constructs, social disposition and goal orientation. Several distinct patterns of connections were observed when examining individual-level epistemic network models. This suggested that there are differences in how social disposition and goal orientation mediates each participant’s initial collaborative engagement. Further research should examine how the strength of connections between constructs evolve among participants with continued involvement in the project.

Authors

• Seung Bok Lee, Pepperdine University

• Danielle Pascual Espino, Pepperdine University

• Eric R. Hamilton, Pepperdine University