Analysis of online collaboration among undergraduate engineering technology students in green energy manufacturing

Abstract

This study uses social network analysis to examine the patterns of student interactions in an online site designed to join students within undergraduate engineering technology programs at two universities. The site was developed with Google Groups to provide students the opportunity to discuss, share, and learn both from and with one another on topics related to green energy manufacturing. The study demonstrates that the online site supports interaction among the undergraduate students. In particular, the networks formed by these interactions were sparse; online students shared course-related advice and information across the sites as a whole and were selective with those whom they sought out for support, information, or guidance. This study has implications for future research to determine why students chose to use the site to interact with their peers and what these interactions provided them. Such data could inform the ways the site helped support students both in their advancement in the program, and could be useful in assisting future development of such sites and similar learning spaces.