Which Social Elements Are Visible in Virtual Groups? Addressing the Categorization of Social Expressions

Autor/inn/en	Perez-Mateo, M.; Guitert, M.
Titel	Which Social Elements Are Visible in Virtual Groups? Addressing the Categorization of Social Expressions
Quelle	In: Computers & Education, 58 (2012) 4, S.1234-1246 (13 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0360-1315
DOI	10.1016/j.compedu.2011.12.014
Schlagwörter	Electronic Learning; Qualitative Research; Distance Education; Online Courses; Classification; Engineering; Educational Technology; Psychology; Learning Processes; Researchers; Models; Undergraduate Study; Higher Education + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Qualitative Forschung; Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Online course; Online-Kurs; Classification system; Klassifikation; Klassifikationssystem; Maschinenbau; Unterrichtsmedien; Psychologie; Learning process; Lernprozess; Researcher; Forscher; Analogiemodell; Grundstudium; Hochschulbildung; Hochschulsystem; Hochschulwesen
Abstract	Learning is a social process. That is why it is extremely important to understand how students interact socially in online courses and how it affects the learning process. However, social aspects, understood as those expressions or comments that go beyond strictly academic interaction, i.e. the need to carry out group work, are not clearly defined. Researchers have proposed different models of categories to observe or measure social aspects. This paper contributes to this field through addressing the categorization of social expression in online groups through a qualitative research procedure. Specifically, 19 indicators have been identified and organized into 4 categories: formal, attitudinal, emotional and informal. The findings suggest that those indicators related to formal and attitudinal aspects appear more often than emotional and informal ones. Different profiles (Psychology or Computer Engineering) as well as different levels of experience in online learning (beginners or experts) have also been analyzed, concluding that Psychology students turn to social expressions more often than Computer Engineering ones. As students progress in their undergraduate studies, social expressions are perceived and used to the extent that they ease the learning process. (Contains 1 figure, 1 picture, 7 graphs, and 5 tables.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10