Person Detection in Collaborative Group Learning Environments Using Multiple Representations

Cognitive dissonance represents someone’s cognition discrepancy on a particular concept and then encouraging the person to comprehend that specific concept better. Cognitive dissonance can be constructed through the use of multiple representations in chemistry learning. Chemistry learning’s nature always involves abstract and complex concepts. Therefore, students mostly face difficulty understanding chemical concepts so that they experience misconceptions. This study seeks to describes the syntax of cognitive dissonance combined with multiple representations to illustrate the implementations of multiple representation based cognitive dissonance strategies (MRCD) in reducing the students’ misconception within chemistry learning. It descriptively examined the articles related to cognitive dissonance and multiple representations. The obtained data were secondary in the form of relevant research articles. The data were analyzed using a descriptive qualitative technique. The study results suggest that multiple representation-based cognitive dissonances consist of a number of phases, namely the prerequisite knowledge, creation of cognitive dissonance, implementation of attained knowledge, and reflection. Each of those phases involves multiple representations. In the end, the multiple representations-based cognitive dissonance strategy that refers to syntax has been confirmed to effectively reduce students’ misconception and improve the learning quality. The multiple representation-based cognitive dissonance strategy should be adopted in chemistry learning since it facilitates students to construct abstract chemical knowledge. Further, this strategy can bring the utmost results if combine with the constructivist learning model.

There is a growing global interest in extending the field of study from stand-alone learning environment to collaborative or cooperative learning environment. In the light of the recent explosive growth of information communication technology, the platform for collaborative or cooperative activities should be revisited. This paper investigates the technological challenges in using distributed multimedia in a collaborative learning environment and proposes an architecture for multimedia processing in the collaborative learning environment. V-Class, a Java application suite with intensive distributed multimedia support, has been developed and deployed, allowing collaborative learning between students and tutors at remote locations. Students can engage in group activities and also collaborate with tutors. Each student sees a common shared window on which text or graphical objects may be added and which can then be shared online. A built-in chat room supports collaborative dialogue. Students can work either in collaborative groups or in teams as directed by the tutor. This paper summarizes the technical architecture of the V-Class system as well as the pedagogical implications of the suite.

Mathematical problem solving in Basic General Education remains a pedagogical challenge closely related to conceptual understanding, representation, and logical reasoning. This study aimed to analyze the influence of visual thinking and the use of multiple representations on the development of mathematical problem-solving skills at this educational level. A quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design was applied to a sample of 120 fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-grade students from public urban schools. The intervention was based on the systematic use of diagrams, schemas, and visual representations within active learning methodologies. The results revealed statistically significant improvements in problem interpretation, procedure selection, and solution justification, as well as an increase in high-performance levels. The study concludes that visual thinking and multiple representations are effective instructional strategies for fostering meaningful and functional mathematical learning in Basic General Education.

Students organize scientific knowledge and reason about issues in the Earth sciences by manipulating internally-constructed mental models and socially-constructed, expressed, conceptual models. The Earth sciences, which focus on the study of complex, dynamic, Earth systems, may present unique cognitive difficulties to students in their development of authentic, accurate expressed conceptual models of these systems. This pilot study came about as we were seeking to construct inquiry modules to assist undergraduate students as they developed an understanding of eutrophication along the coastal margin, a good example of a complex, dynamic, environmental process. The modules we developed coupled the use of physical models and information technology (IT)-based multiple representations with an inquiry-based learning environment that allowed our students to develop and test their conceptual models based on available evidence and to solve authentic, complex, and ill-constrained problems. Our hypothesis was that the quality of students' conceptual models would predict their performance on inquiry modules, and that students' prior knowledge (measured by number of previous courses in geology) would mediate the strength of the relationship between students' model expression and their inquiry performance. Statistical results of this study indicated such a relationship existed only among students in the high prior knowledge group. In the light of our findings, we make recommendations for pedagogical accommodations to improve all undergraduates' abilities to understand complex, dynamic, environmental systems, with a particular emphasis on students who have lower levels of prior knowledge.

In previous chapters, we discussed the use of visualization from the perspective of the different tasks involved, and the different representation formats possible. We now attempt to tie the tasks and representations together. In Section 18.1, we first discuss experimental evidence supporting the use of multiple representations, and then discuss how optimization systems can support multiple representations (Section 18.2). Finally, we discuss how these representations can be built and maintained by multiple users perhaps working in multiple locations at different points in time (Section 18.3).KeywordsMultiple RepresentationGroup Decision Support SystemHomogeneous ApproachMathematical Programming FormulationElectronic Meeting SystemThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Studies indicate that the use of multiple representations in teaching helps students become better problem solvers. We report on a study to investigate students’ difficulties with multiple representations. We conducted teaching/learning interviews with 20 students in a first semester calculus‐based physics course. Each student was interviewed four times during the semester, each time after they had completed an exam in class. During these interviews students were first asked to solve a problem they had seen on the exam, followed by problems that differed in context and type of representation from the exam problem. Students were provided verbal scaffolding to solve the new problems. We discuss the common difficulties that students encountered when attempting to transfer their problem solving skills across problems in different representations.

This study examines the impact of implementing multiple representation method in responding to the challenge of learning science specifically in relation to enhancing students’ reasoning skill. Pre-experimental method was applied to obtain research data from participants consisted of 8th grader students at a private junior high school in Bandung, Indonesia. The effect on reasoning skill was studied from students’ arguments in answering question related to respiratory system. The arguments were then analyzed by the completeness of argument component, level of argument, and quality of argument referring to Toulmin’s argumentation pattern (TAP). The findings show that students experienced significant improvement in reasoning skill expressed in their arguments. The improvement was evident in the higher argument level and better argument quality achieved by students after the implementation of multiple representation method. In relation to quality of argument, the overall quality of argument shifted from the domination of weak arguments to the domination of strong arguments. Additionally, the use of multiple representation in learning assists students to be able to use various forms of information such as graphics, visual images, tables, scientific formula, and written expression in explaining concepts.

The power of The Geometer's Sketchpad® (GSP) for teaching and learning lies in its potential for enabling students to explore geometric concepts and recognize relationships among these concepts as illustrated through the use of multiple representations. This article explores two problems and examines how the use of tables along with GSP sketches may assist students in understanding these concepts. The first activity investigates the relationship of the length of a trapezoid's median (or midsegment) to that of its bases. The second involves showing how the area of a regular polygon approaches that of a circle when the number of sides increases. In both activities, we will start with the geometric object, look at the measurements, tabulate these, and make a graph to illuminate the situation.

This study investigated the relationships between computer science (CS) course effectiveness and academic performance in a Guangdong Province private school through an integrated environmental and social psychology framework, examining collaborative learning environment and technology environment perception as mediating mechanisms. A quantitative cross-sectional design surveyed several hundred Grade 4 international high school students enrolled in computer science courses at Guangdong Country Garden School during the 2024-2025 academic year. Results revealed that all five CS course effectiveness dimensions—hands-on experiences, real-world applications, collaborative learning, problem-solving abilities, and technology landscape readiness—demonstrated strong positive correlations with academic performance (r=.790-.879, p<.01), with problem-solving abilities emerging as the strongest predictor (β=.342). Mediation analysis using Hayes' PROCESS macro with bootstrapping procedures confirmed that collaborative learning environment (14.7%-23.7% mediation) and technology environment perception (14.7%-23.9% mediation) functioned as significant partial mediators, with real-world applications showing strongest social-psychological mediation and hands-on experiences exhibiting strongest environmental mediation. Hierarchical regression demonstrated that environmental and social-psychological factors contributed unique variance beyond course effectiveness dimensions (ΔR²=.043, p<.001). Findings provide empirical support for person-environment fit theories and social cognitive frameworks, highlighting the importance of optimizing both technological infrastructure and interpersonal climate for CS education effectiveness in private school contexts.

An optimized group formation scheme to promote collaborative problem-based learning

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the value students place on the sustainable strategies game (SSG) which seeks to improve student engagement in business sustainability through enhanced game-based learning. This game provides an alternative collaborative learning environment to the traditional instructivist approach to enrich Education for Sustainability (EfS) learning experiences and enhance student engagement.Design/methodology/approachStudents’ reflections on their game-based learning experiences and suggestions for game development were collected through a short qualitative survey. Results are explored through three frameworks, namely, the multifaceted student value model, the dimensions of engagement framework and the UK higher education authority (HEA) framework for engagement through partnership.FindingsResearch findings suggest the SSG provides game-based learning within EfS that delivers “edutainment” within an active, collaborative and experiential learning environment that the students value. It is also able to challenge thinking and emotionally engage students with the fundamentals of business sustainability. Reflection-on-action and the students’ role as co-researchers in game development allow students to become active participants in their learning as well as knowledge producers and evaluators. These outcomes deliver the UK HEA’s core facets of student engagement through partnership.Research limitations/implicationsThis practice-focused study presents the self-reported results of a one-time, small study which does not offer generalised, independently validated responses. However, the findings may be of interest to educators considering the adoption of game-based learning and those seeking new learning cultures for EfS.Practical implicationsGame-based learning and teaching approaches can achieve a learner-centred active, collaborative learning environment that enhances student engagement with business sustainability.Originality/valueExperiences gained from this study should assist others in the implementation of game-based learning to engage students in business sustainability.

Literatures have indicated that well-balanced groups facilitate students’ learning performance in collaborative learning environments. For instructors, to construct well-balanced groups needs to take efforts and time to consider large number of students and characteristics. Hence, how to automatically construct well-balanced collaborative learning groups has been a popular issue for collaborative learning. This paper proposes a genetic algorithm (GA)-based grouping strategy to assist instructors in constructing inter-homogeneous and intra-heterogeneous collaborative learning groups considering multiple student characteristics. Several data sets with different problem sizes, such as number of students and characteristics, are employed as experimental materials. Experimental results have demonstrated that the proposed grouping method is effective, efficient and robust.KeywordsCollaborative learningWell-balanced groupsGenetic algorithm (GA)Multi-objective optimization

The importance of this study is linked to the topic of increasing the quality of future teacher professional training by creating a collaborative learning environment. The purpose of this research is to conduct a theoretical analysis of the effectiveness of creating a collaborative learning environment in university and demonstrate its impact on the successful professional activity of future teachers. The paper presents the data of the experimental research in the form of Action Research, conducted among 1st and 2nd year students of pedagogical specialties in the natural sciences (chemistry, biology, physics, computer science). The core requirements of the personality-oriented, activity-based, systemic, environmental, axiological and competence-based approaches form the methodological foundation for building a collaborative learning environment. Students who are immersed in a collaborative learning environment have the opportunity to reflect on the level of formation of their own professional skills, the success of achieving educational goals, and the processes of self-realization, self-development, and self-actualization on a regular basis. This study examines the impact of collaborative learning on students’ communication skills, knowledge quality, assessment of educational achievements, and study time savings. The research findings are linked to the use of Action Research in the educational process, involving students in the process of professional self-improvement. The novelty of the research is characterized by the identification of developmental effect of a collaborative learning environment based on the concept of a zone of actual student professional growth. The practical significance of the research is the development of positive experience in structuring the educational process, with the prospect of applying this experience in future professional activities, such as working with students.

The purpose of this study is to explore the interaction and human communication on a Web-Based Collaborative Learning Environment (WBCLE). WBCLE is an integrative, interactive and collaborative learning environment for web based courses. With optimized learning materials, WBCLE also provides interactive functions such as login, students’ works upload the instructor’s comment feedback, Real-time chat Room and discussion forum and provides collaborative functions such as group management, group collaborative learning, shared resources. Based on the investigations of web courses in WBCLE, the paper analyses the interactive and collaborative functions and web learning patterns, and the impact of human communication. Learning technology can not completely take place of instructor’s supervision and communication with students. Strategies for collaborative learning and human communication can improve the educational effectiveness, and they include enhancing message flows among students and the instructor, creating communities in the course, and providing more interactive functions and supervision to the students.KeywordsHuman CommunicationDiscussion ForumInteractive FunctionChat RoomComputer Mediate CommunicationThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

This chapter is an evaluation of the efficiency of 3D Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments to facilitate the implementation of collaborative learning activities. Firstly, there is a presentation of the state of the art regarding open source as well as proprietary platforms. Afterwards, the use of a case study reveals issues concerning the suitability of open source Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments, rationalizing the choice of executing a collaborative learning scenario in Second Life. The specific scenario is then presented culminating in evaluation results related to the appropriateness of Second Life with regards to its technical and pedagogical affordances. Finally, students' suggestions and reactions towards such a novel didactical approach are discussed.