A Study on Heterogeneity During Realtime Collaborative Problem Solving

Abstract

This paper discusses the effect of learning material heterogeneity on real-time computer- supported collaborative problem solving. A study has been contacted in the frame of an authentic educational activity in a Greek secondary school. The students involved were provided with sets of primitive resources of varying degrees of heterogeneity to be used during collaborative modelling activities. Analysis of students peer interaction and produced solutions revealed that, contrary to our expectations, the group with heterogeneous resources produced solutions of similar quality to that of the reference group that possessed homogeneous learning material, while they were more active, exchanged more messages, were involved in deeper discussions and overall collaborated in great extend. The reported findings can have implications in the design of education scenarios involving distance real-time collaboration.