How are student's problems being solved? the quality of worked solutions on a popular open, online, mathematics help forum

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Free, open, online, help forums connect students with volunteer helpers who provide assistance with specific problems from coursework. One of the most popular existing mathematics help forums, Cramster, is an advocate of Cognitive Load Theory (CLT), and promotes the provision of worked solutions. The purpose of this project was to ascertain the quality of the worked solutions that students are receiving, by analyzing 128 threads from the Algebra thru Pre-Calculus site archives from two perspectives. First, a rubric based on research-based design principles of worked examples was used to distinguish poor from wellstructured solutions. Second, student ratings of solutions they received were examined and compared with the research-based ratings. The results show that Cramster is providing students with responses that contain steps, and sometimes goals, as opposed to final answers only. However, there is also much misinformation in the responses, and students do not show much discernment in their ratings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationConnecting Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning to Policy and Practice
Subtitle of host publicationCSCL 2011 Conference Proceedings - Long Papers, 9th International Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference
Pages280-287
Number of pages8
StatePublished - 2011
Event9th International Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference: Connecting Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning to Policy and Practice, CSCL 2011 - Hong Kong, China
Duration: Jul 4 2011Jul 8 2011

Publication series

NameConnecting Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning to Policy and Practice: CSCL 2011 Conference Proceedings - Long Papers, 9th International Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference
Volume1

Other

Other9th International Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference: Connecting Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning to Policy and Practice, CSCL 2011
Country/TerritoryChina
CityHong Kong
Period7/4/117/8/11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Computer Science Applications

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'How are student's problems being solved? the quality of worked solutions on a popular open, online, mathematics help forum'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this