Transfer of Emergent Leadership from Collaborative Reasoning to Collaborative Problem Solving

• In Event: Roundtable Session 73
  In Roundtable Session: New Directions in Problem-Based Learning Research

Abstract

Do children transfer the social skills they have learned from one group activity to another? By using the approach of Collaborative Reasoning (CR) discussion and Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS), this study examined the transfer of children’s emergent leadership skills across these two different group activities. 252 students from 4 fifth grade classes in Mideast China took part in this study. Analysis of pre and post surveys, and videotapes of 8 groups’ CPS revealed that, as compared to students who received no CR discussions, students who experienced CR discussions initiated more effective leadership moves in the CPS activity. Furthermore, CR students were also more confident in sharing their thoughts in the CPS activity.

Authors

• Jingjing Sun, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Richard C. Anderson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Michelle Perry, University of Illinois

• Tzu-Jung Lin, The Ohio State University