TY - GEN
T1 - How are student's problems being solved? the quality of worked solutions on a popular open, online, mathematics help forum
AU - van de Sande, Carla
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84858397174&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84858397174&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84858397174
SN - 9780578091525
T3 - Connecting Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning to Policy and Practice: CSCL 2011 Conference Proceedings - Long Papers, 9th International Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference
SP - 280
EP - 287
BT - Connecting Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning to Policy and Practice
T2 - 9th International Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference: Connecting Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning to Policy and Practice, CSCL 2011
Y2 - 4 July 2011 through 8 July 2011
ER -