Scripted Collaboration to Leverage the Impact of Algorithm Visualization Tools in Online Learning

Abstract

This work presents research evidence on the impact of a collaboration script to leverage the use of an Algorithm Visualization (AV) system as a tool for experimentation and reflection in the context of online collaboration. The objective of the authors’ effort is to improve the learning conditions when AV systems are used as online learning tools, avoiding situations where unguided collaboration may result in suboptimal peer interaction. Results from two studies are reported, where university students collaborated online following the steps of a reciprocal peer tutoring script and using two different AV systems to visualize their solutions on specific algorithm-related learning tasks. Discourse analysis based on an appropriately extended IBIS model and further statistical analysis indicate that the use of the collaboration script enhances the task-related peer interaction and consequently the intrinsic feedback that peers receive from interacting with the AV system, something expected to lead to improved learning outcomes. The implication for AV system designers is that the inclusion of a collaboration script component in the system design is strongly encouraged as a means to augment the expected benefits from online collaborative learning tasks.

A Collaboration Model

“…These groups define the interoperability barriers for each company and the authors of this approach use the ATHENA (Advanced Technologies for Interoperability of Heterogeneous Enterprise Networks and their Application) project solutions to overcome the identified barriers. The work of Foutsitzis and Demetriadis (2013) presents research evidence on the impact of a collaboration script to leverage the use of an Algorithm Visualization (AV) system as a tool for experimentation and reflection in the context of online collaboration.…”

Towards an Automated Model to Evaluate Collaboration through Non-Verbal Interaction in Collaborative Virtual Environments

“…In such a way that the avatar, as an embodied representation of the user in the CVE, aids conversation and understanding to the virtual space (Imai et al, 2000), adding nonverbal communication such as gaze-direction or by representing the pointing to a virtual object, deictic gestures. Within this context, the automatic monitoring of collaboration in computer supported learning or team training, represents a resource for human or intelligent tutor systems in different ways such as creating the student or apprentice profile to adapt or personalize activities, to track the students' involvement, understanding the individual factors that influence the group and vice versa, measure of the participation equality or to understand the dynamics of the group (Foutsitzis & Demetriadis, 2013;Graham & Doore, 2015;Papanikolaou & Gouli, 2013;Reinig & Mejias, 2014).…”