Constructing nomological nets on the basis of process analyses to strengthen CSCL research

Due to the nature of collaborative learning, realising perfectly controlled experiments often requires an unreasonable amount of resources and sometimes it is not possible at all. Against this background, I propose to augment as good as feasible experimental design with a nomological net of relations between instructional support (intervention), learning processes and learning outcomes. Nomological networks are known from construct validity. In construct validity, the relations between variables (e.g. group differences, correlation matrices) are used to provide evidence for the validity of a measure. By adding multiple process and outcome variables together with the corresponding relations between intervention, process and outcome, the validity of causal relations found can be strengthened. I suggest adopting quality criteria from good research designs to evaluate the nomological nets. The resulting net needs to be (1) theory grounded, (2) situational, (3) feasible, (4) redundant, and (5) efficient. By making these nomological nets explicit and by designing them according to the presented criteria, CSCL research becomes more potent: the risk of inconclusive results is reduced while results that form a consistent nomological net can be interpreted with a stronger confidence, even if the experimental design has some flaws. If this becomes standard in CSCL research, it can be expected to contribute significantly better to knowledge accumulation in this area of research

Instructor versus Peer Attention Guidance in Online Learning Conversations

This paper reports a theory-driven experimental study for designing and evaluating two different forms of attention-guidance functionalities integrated into an anchored-discussion system. Using social constructivism as a motivating theory, we constructed a theoretical framework that emphasizes the importance of students’ attention allocation in online learning conversations and its influence on message quality and interaction patterns. The development of the functionalities, named faded instructor-led and peer-oriented attention guidance, aimed to direct students’ attention toward instructional materials’ central domain principles while offering them an open learning environment in which they could choose their own topics and express their own ideas. We evaluated the functionalities with heat map analysis, repeated measures general linear model analysis, and sequence analysis to assess the utility of the developed functionalities. Results show that attention guidance helped students more properly allocate their attention in online learning conversations. Furthermore, we found that the improved attention allocation led to better quality of students’ online learning conversations. We discuss implications for researchers and practitioners who wish to promote more fruitful online discussions

Semantic discovery and reuse of business process patterns

Patterns currently play an important role in modern information systems (IS) development and their use has mainly been restricted to the design and implementation phases of the development lifecycle. Given the increasing significance of business modelling in IS development, patterns have the potential of providing a viable solution for promoting reusability of recurrent generalized models in the very early stages of development. As a statement of research-in-progress this paper focuses on business process patterns and proposes an initial methodological framework for the discovery and reuse of business process patterns within the IS development lifecycle. The framework borrows ideas from the domain engineering literature and proposes the use of semantics to drive both the discovery of patterns as well as their reuse

Emerging Informatics

The book on emerging informatics brings together the new concepts and applications that will help define and outline problem solving methods and features in designing business and human systems. It covers international aspects of information systems design in which many relevant technologies are introduced for the welfare of human and business systems. This initiative can be viewed as an emergent area of informatics that helps better conceptualise and design new world-class solutions. The book provides four flexible sections that accommodate total of fourteen chapters. The section specifies learning contexts in emerging fields. Each chapter presents a clear basis through the problem conception and its applicable technological solutions. I hope this will help further exploration of knowledge in the informatics discipline