A Complex Systems Approach to Collaborative Engagement

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 4
  In Poster Session: Assessing and Promoting Student Achievement in Schools

Abstract

Meaningful student engagement in collaboration is a critical and necessary aspect of many educational endeavors. However, the properties of group-level engagement in collaboration are challenging to research. To address these challenges, collaboration researchers have operationalized group-level collaborative processes from a complex systems (CS) perspective. The objective of our research is to determine if measures of collaborative engagement operationalized from a CS perspective (i.e. adaptive and coordinated action) can predict unique variance in educational outcomes over and above individual level engagement. Results indicated that interactive instruction and collaborative engagement were the best predictors of perceived innovation in post-secondary energy science classrooms.

Authors

• Jonathan C. Hilpert, University of Nevada Las Vegas

• Gwen C. Marchand, University of Nevada - Las Vegas