Development of a system which leads easygoing conversations to logical discussions

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The present study developed a computer system, called "Constructive Conversation Support System (CCSS), which leads "easygoing" conversations (in YOU-mode) to logical discussions (in THEY-mode) by channeling students' statements to other students in logical connections indicated by labeled link in a network shown in the display. Students must select one of the conjunctional sentences, such as, "I am just thinking : ", "I have the same idea : ", "I have a different idea : ", (in YOU-mode), "I agree with you, because : ", "I don't agree with you, because : " and "Show us the evidence : " (in THEY-mode), and so on. The system not only supports students' "chatting" (informal, easygoing conversation) in classroom, but also "debating" (logical discussions between "pros" and "cons") over a target statement. The system was used in Science class in a junior high school, encouraging students' conversations. Results show that the system facilitated the participation of low-achievement, spiritless students who usually seldom join classroom discussions in regular classes. The system is further developed to use PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) as an terminal through which students can input statements and see the overall network configurations of all the statements in a class. This extension further facilitates non-participatory students to participate in classroom discussions by leading their "easygoing" conversations to more constructive discussions.