Tatiana: an environment to support the CSCL analysis process

• Gregory Dyke , Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Etienne
• Kristine Lund , ICAR CNRS University of Lyon
• Jean-Jacques Girardot , Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Etienne

Best Student Paper Nominee

The analysis of multimodal computer-mediated human interaction data is difficult: the diverse nature of this data and its sheer quantity is challenging enough, but a further obstacle is introduced by the complex nature of these interactions. In this paper, we describe the kinds of activities performed by researchers wishing to analyze this data. We present a model for analysis based on these activities. We then introduce Tatiana (Trace Analysis Tool for Interaction Analysts) as an environment based on this model and designed to assist researchers in managing, synchronizing, visualizing and analyzing their data by iteratively creating artifacts which further their understanding or exhibit their current understanding of their data. We show how Tatiana can be used to perform analyses and its potential for sharing corpora and analyses within the research community.
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Inscriptions Becoming Representations

• Richard Medina , University of Hawaii
• Daniel Suthers , University of Hawaii
• Ravi Vatrapu , Copenhagen Business School

Best Paper Nominee - Best Student Paper Nominee

This paper analyzes the interaction of three students working on mathematics problems over several days in a virtual math team. Our analysis traces out how successful collaboration in a later session was contingent upon the work of prior sessions, and shows how representational practices are important aspects of these participants’ mathematical problem solving. We trace the formation, transformation and refinement of one problem-solving practice—problem decomposition—and three representational practices—inscribe first solve second, modulate perspective and visualize decomposition. The analysis shows how inscriptions become representations for the group through a historical trajectory of negotiation. This result is of theoretical interest because it shows how the practices underlying group cognition are contingent upon not only the immediate situation but also the chronologically prior resources and associated practices.
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Interaction Analysis of Dual-Interaction CSCL Environments

• Murat Perit Cakir , Drexel University
• Gerry Stahl , Drexel University

Best Student Paper Nominee

In order to collaborate effectively in group discourse on a topic like mathematical patterns, group participants must organize their activities so that they have a shared understanding of the significance of their utterances, inscriptions and behaviors—adequate for sustaining productive interaction. The need for participants to coordinate their actions becomes particularly salient in dual-interaction environments, where, e.g., chat postings and graphical drawings must work together; analysts of such interactions must identify the subtle and complex ways in which meaning making proceeds. This paper considers the methodological requirements on analyzing interaction in dual-interaction environments by reviewing several exemplary CSCL studies. It reflects on the nature of social organization, grounding and indexicality that frame the interaction to be analyzed.
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Why be a Wikipedian

• Hoda Baytiyeh , The University of Tennessee
• Jay Pfaffman , The University of Tennessee

Best Student Paper Nominee

Wikipedia is a user-edited encyclopedia. Unpaid users contribute articles, edit them, and have heated debates about what information should be included or excluded. This study is designed to learn more about why people are willing to do this work without any fiscal compensation. Wikipedia administrators (n=115) completed an online survey with Likert-scaled items of potential types of satisfaction derived from participation as well as comments that were used to check the validity of the Likert-scaled items and allow participants to say in their own words why they were Wikipedian. Results showed that contributors in Wikipedia are driven largely by motivations to learn and create.
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