What Tutoring Strategies Impact Students’ Success and Knowledge Representation in Online Mathematical Discussions?

• In Event: Learning Strategies for Online Environments

Abstract

Online mathematical discussions offer benefits like collaborative knowledge construction, increased learner engagement, and enhanced higher-order thinking. However, their effectiveness depends on tutoring strategies. Previous studies focused on problem-solving success, with less attention to knowledge representation. This study analyzed 2,318 tutor-student discussion threads from a large-scale online math learning platform, annotated for problem-solving success, knowledge representation, and tutoring strategies. Regression and Ordered Network Analysis (ONA) revealed that “motivating and encouraging” and “feedback” are the most effective strategies for both problem-solving and knowledge representation, while “direct intervention” aids problem-solving but not knowledge representation. Conversely, “questioning” boosts knowledge representation but minimally impacts problem-solving. These findings offer insights for effective tutoring strategies in online math discussions.

Authors

• Yukyeong Song, University of Tennessee

• Chenglu Li, University of Utah

• Yingbo Ma, University of Florida

• Bailing Lyu, University of Utah

• Wangda Zhu, University of Florida

• Hai Li, University of Florida

• Wanli Xing, University of Florida