Fractal groups: Emergent dynamics in on-line learning communities

Abstract

Drawing on complexity theory, this work discusses the complex dynamics and emergent patterns of on-line learning communities based on a doctoral study in the area of Applied Linguistics. The analysis will center on the interlocutions of fifty students who interacted in small groups without the teacher's direct intervention, in an undergraduate course offered by the School of Languages and Literature at the Federal University of Minas Gerais. By analyzing the data, I demonstrate that out of the interactions among the peers of autonomous on-line learning communities arise opportunities for the construction of shared meaning, distributed leadership, as well as other dynamics. I also demonstrate the fractal nature of these communities. Moreover, I discuss how these findings shed light on the creation and development of course designs for large groups.

Diskurtso-praktika kokatuak: benetako komunikazio-praktikak

“…Halaber, estrategien ebaluazioan, irakaskuntzan eta ikerketan bere liburuak konplexutasunari lotutako mugimendu berri bat hasiko duela espero du. KT (konplexutasunaren teoria), hain zuzen, ikaslearen autonomiarekin lotura duen arlo sorta bati aplikatu zaio Interneteko hizkuntza-maileguan, tartean dela intentzionalitatea (Kostoulas eta Stelma, 2016), mailegu-estrategiak (Griffiths eta Ïnceçay, 2016), irakaslearen sinesmenak (Kramsch eta Zhang, 2018), distantziamailegua (Braga, 2013), datuek gidatutako ikaskuntza (Boulton, 2002), testuinguruko bokabulario-ikaskuntza (Godwin-Jones, 2018b), hizkuntza-ikaskuntzako aholkularitza (Castro, 2018), ikaslearen egiletza (Mercer,20llb), garapen fonologikoa (Moyer, 2017), ikaskuntzarako gizarte-guneak (Murray, Fujishima eta Uzuka, 2018), Interneteko taldedinamikak (Poupore, 2018), motibazioa (Sade, 2011), ezagutza metakognitiboa (Zhang, 2016), Interneteko jokoak (Scholz eta Schulze, 2017) eta hizkuntza-ikaskuntza informala (Godwin-Jones, 2018aSockett, 2013). Elementu horien elkarrekintzak nola diren elkarren mendekoak identifikatzean, autonomiaren kontzeptua dimentsio askotan funtzionatzen duen alderdi anitzeko konstruktu gisa birdefinitu da (Reinders eta White, 2016).…”

“…Fenomeno hori ikusteko beste modu bat da H2 ikasteak esan nahi duela identitate-sistema konplexuaren dimentsio fraktalak kontuan hartzea (Paiva, 2011). Fraktalak dira norbere buruaren antzeko entitateak, kasu honetan, norbanako beraren barneko identitate-konstrukzio desberdinak; barneazpizatiketetarako aukera mugagabea ematen dute, eta kanpoalde bat eta norbere buruaren antzekotasuna dute muga bakartzat (Sade, 2011;Braga, 2013). Fraktagarritasuna lagungarria da ibilbide ez-lineal horietan askotariko eskalatan ereduak identifikatzeko orduan (Schulze, 2017).…”

Developing a Task-Based Dialogue System for English Language Learning

“…Various online learning methods enable people to make good use of their spare time to learn, greatly enhancing traditional learning efficiency. Technologies integrating various learning approaches such as pragmatic, context, or cooperated learning have shown great success in language learning [1][2][3]. In the context of digital language learning, speaking is considered to be one of the most important parts of learning a foreign language [4].…”