CoLSoM


Project title: A Collaborative Learning Framework Based on Social Media Tools: A Focus on Learning Analytics
Project code: PN-II-RU-TE-2014-4-2604
Duration: October 2015 - September 2017
Financed by: Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, CNCS - UEFISCDI


Abstract


The project belongs to the research area of "Advanced information systems for e-learning" and aims to develop an educational platform for collaborative learning, based on integrating several social media tools. The topic requires an interdisciplinary approach, including aspects related to Web 2.0 applications and technologies, social networks, data analysis, information visualization, learning sciences. The project builds on the earlier results obtained by the applicant (the eMUSE social learning environment and the experimental data collected over 5 years). The project aims to: improve and extend the eMUSE platform; integrate a peer evaluation module for students; develop a collaborative note-taking tool for lectures; experimentally evaluate the eMUSE 2.0 platform. The main objective is the analysis of the data collected by eMUSE and eMUSE 2.0, through the mechanism of tracking students' actions on the social media tools. This analysis will be performed using descriptive, qualitative and quantitative methods; approaches will include various data mining and statistical analysis techniques, social network analysis and interaction analysis methods, advanced data visualization techniques. The theoretical results of the project will contribute to the development of the emergent "social learning analytics" research area, while the practical part is expected to have a positive impact on student performance and motivation.

Publications


  1. Elvira Popescu, Zuzana Kubincova, Martin Homola, Blogging Activities in Higher Education: Comparing Learning Scenarios in Multiple Course Experiences, Proceedings ICWL 2015, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 9142, Springer, ISBN: 978-3-319-25514-9, pp. 197-207, 2015. [Abstract]
  2. Qing Li, Rynson Lau, Elvira Popescu, Yanghui Rao, Howard Leung, Xinzhong Zhu, Social Media for Ubiquitous Learning and Adaptive Tutoring, IEEE MultiMedia, 2016 (accepted).