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iDEA: DREXEL LIBRARIES E-REPOSITORY AND ARCHIVES

iDEA: DREXEL LIBRARIES E-REPOSITORY AND ARCHIVES

Main sections

Virtual math teams: How small groups create and use mathematical objects to do joint problem solving in chat

Details
Title
Virtual math teams: How small groups create and use mathematical objects to do joint problem solving in chat
Author(s)
Cakir, Murat Perit; Sarmiento, Johann W.; Toledo, Ramon Prudencio S.; Zhou, Nan; Charles, Elizabeth; Strijbos, Jan-Willem; Trausan-Matu, Stefan; Wessner, Martin; Xhafa, Fatos; Zemel, Alan; Stahl, Gerry; Weimar, Stephen; Shumar, Wesley
Date
2006-04-20
Abstract
The Virtual Math Teams (VMT) project is an NSF-funded research program through which researchers at the College of Information Science and Technology (IST) and the Math Forum investigate the innovative use of online collaborative environments to support effective K-12 mathematics learning. One of the main concerns of the VMT project is to study how small groups are engaged in math problem solving through synchronous communication tools (e.g. chat, shared whiteboard). During our experimental sessions we observed that groups bring various mathematical objects (e.g. shared representations of relevant math concepts and concerns) into discussion via available interactive tools to address their common task. This study will focus on how these math objects are organized and related to each other by the participants through their actions on the interface as they are co-constructing a solution to their problem. In particular this study will focus on: How math objects mentioned in the problem statement are brought into discussion. How new math objects are offered and made relevant to the objects suggested by the problem definition. How proposed objects are taken up and assessed by other members. How math objects are organized and linked together to co-construct solution accounts. The main goal of the study is to get insights about different ways math activities are coordinated and conducted by the participants in the VMT-Chat environment. Based on this exploratory structural analysis, portraits of student interaction will be documented. Finally, requirements for further software support for small groups will be investigated.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1860/1608
In Collections
Drexel Research

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