MATH: EAGER: Online Collaborative Problem Solving in Remedial College Mathematics

本研究旨在探讨学习环境对本科生在补习性微积分预科数学解题学习中的影响。这项研究将检验面对面讨论小组和两种不同类型的在线设计与个人实践相比较的有效性。学生将被随机分配到四组中的一组：三个处理组，使用(1)面对面讨论，(2)使用白板在线工具的音频功能，或(3)结合音频+白板+基于化身的互动的在线虚拟环境进行协作问题解决；或个人解决问题的控制组。目前，这所大学的微积分预科教学是使用基于网络的Aleks教程软件在线进行的，这是一个在线互动学习系统，使用人工智能算法来评估和报告学生对内容材料的掌握情况。为了寻求更好的学生表现，该项目正在对最近为管理课程构建的更丰富的在线学习问题解决设计的有效性进行早期深入研究，该设计名为VirBELA(虚拟商业教育领导力评估)。它是一个学习平台，为学生提供团队合作的机会。在数学方面，VirBELA在促进群体问题解决方面具有很好的潜力。它提供了一个白板，允许学生根据需要绘制图表和函数，还提供了供讨论的音频功能。它还增加了一个功能，通过为每个学生创建一个化身，为学生提供一个虚拟的在线化身。来自其他来源的证据表明，化身创造了一个更丰富、更具互动性和吸引力的在线协作环境，更紧密地复制了面对面交流的优势。将收集和评估广泛的数据，包括辅导学习软件的使用记录，微积分预科和微积分的共同期末考试成绩，以及个人机构数据。其他结果变量将包括学生在问题解决方面的表现，他们在问题解决课程前后如何使用基于教程的数学软件，他们是否坚持下一门微积分课程，他们在随后的微积分课程中获得什么分数，以及他们对STEM学习的态度是如何根据前后调查发生变化的。这项研究将在三个不同的季度重复进行。

This is a study of the impact of the learning environment on undergraduate students learning problem-solving in remedial pre-calculus mathematics. The study will examine the comparative effectiveness of face-to-face discussion groups and 2 different types of online designs, compared to individual practice. Students will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: three treatment groups that carry out collaborative problem solving using (1) face-to-face discussion, (2) an audio capability with a whiteboard online tool, or (3) an online virtual environment combining audio plus whiteboard plus avatar-based interaction; or a control group of individual problem solving. Currently, pre-calculus instruction is been carried out online in this university using the web-based ALEKS tutorial software, an online interactive learning system that uses an artificial intelligence algorithm to assess and report student mastery of content material. In search of improved student performance, this project is conducting an early in-depth study of the effectiveness of a richer online design for learning problem solving that was recently constructed for management courses, called VirBELA (Virtual Business Education Leadership Assessment). It is a learning platform that offers students the opportunity to work in teams. In mathematics, VirBELA has good potential for facilitating group problem-solving. It provides a whiteboard that allows students to draw diagrams and functions as needed and also provides an audio capability for discussion. It has the added feature of giving students a virtual online embodiment by creating an avatar for each student. There is evidence from other sources that avatars create a richer, more interactive and engaging online collaborative environment that more closely replicates the advantages of in-person communication. A wide range of data will be collected and assessed, including usage logs of the tutorial learning software, common final exam scores in both pre-calculus and calculus, and individual institutional data. Other outcome variables will include how students perform on the problem solving, how they use the tutorial-based mathematics software before and after problem solving sessions, and whether they persist to the next calculus course, what grades they earn in the following calculus course, and how their attitudes toward STEM study change based on pre- and post-surveys. The study will be repeated in three different quarters.