Studying social aspects of computer-supported collaboration with a mixed evaluation approach

Abstract

Studying and evaluating real experiences that promote active and collaborative learning is a crucial field in CSCL. Major issues that remain unsolved deal with the merging of qualitative and quantitative methods and data, especially in educational settings that involve direct as well as computer-supported collaboration. In this paper we present an evaluation methodology and its application to a university course that took place during the last two academic years. We have developed EL2AM, a tool that allows an automatic processing of computer logs using social network analysis. It has been used jointly with a commercial qualitative research tool in order to support the evaluation process. Experimental results allow us to reflect and draw conclusions on the changes of attitudes towards collaboration experimented by the students along the course.