Network analytics of collaborative problem-solving

Abstract

Problem-solving and collaboration are regarded as an essential part of 21st Century Skills. This study describes a task-focused approach to network analysis of trace data from collaborative problem-solving in a digital learning environment. The analysis framework builds and expands upon previous analyses of social ties as well as discourse analysis and adds new metrics of collaborative learning, problem-solving and personal learning. Using three forms of evidence - actions and use of resources, communications and constructed products - the article outlines and illustrates a framework for characterising individual and team performance on a team project as a basis for documenting individual and team behaviours linked to personal learning, collaboration and team problem solving. This study provides a preliminary demonstration of the effectiveness of network analysis on quantifying and visualizing individual-level and group-level performance in computer-mediated collaborative learning.