VMT CSCL Workshop June 2004

overview

 the CSCL research context  theory of small group cognition  VMT accomplishments  VMT plans for next year  collaboration around VMT VMT Workshop June 2004 2

the CSCL research context

 CSCL conferences every other year  ISLS formed  CSCL journal in formation  idea of concrete research collaboration  idea of Math Forum as research test bed, CSCL research center, video analysis institute  NSF proposals for VMT with international collaborators VMT Workshop June 2004 3

need for a theory of small group cognition

 Theories of learning have focused primarily on the individual unit of analysis as the acquirer of knowledge and on the community unit of analysis as the context within which participation takes place.  I am interested in the small group unit of analysis as the discourse in which knowledge actually emerges.

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research hypotheses for a theory of small group cognition

    The small group is the unit that mediates between individual and community learning. Community participation takes place primarily within small group activities. Individual learning is acquired through participation in these small group activities. Both individual identities and community practices are formed through small group activities.

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Design research approach to a theory of small group cognition

    An inquiry into the nature of small group cognition in virtual math teams. The structured problem-solving activities of these online teams aim to impact the individual math comprehension of the participants. Like other services of the Math Forum, they have the potential to affect the Math Forum community as such.

How do problem-solving and collaboration take place within these teams and how can that be affected by the structuring and support of their small group activities?

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VMT accomplishments

 NSF funding for 5 years  1 video of collab math p-s in Phila school  9 videos of collab math p-s in DU course  20 chat logs of collab math p-s in DU  20 PoW-wow! chat logs  coding scheme  VMT workshop VMT Workshop June 2004 7

VMT plans for next year

 design research approach to:  code Pow-wows & class chat logs  transcribe & code videos from school & class  quantitative & qualitative analysis  design software environment  design collaboration problems/pedagogy  scale up PoW-wow service VMT Workshop June 2004 8

collaboration around VMT

 annual VMT workshop  visiting researchers: J-W, Fatos, Stefan, Martin, ….

 visiting speakers: Chris, Cindy, Tim, Chip, ….

 online VMT workgroups, local coord.

 joint papers, workshops at conferences  research institute or center, journal VMT Workshop June 2004 9