Using Social Network Analysis to Explore Digital Student Interactions and Business Competency Learning in a Web-based Educational Platform

Abstract

Web 2.0 tools occupy a large part of our lives, and their use in the classroom offers instructors a unique opportunity to gather substantial information about individual and interactive student behaviors. The authors' challenge is understanding the implications of this rich data source for assessing course efficacy and student learning, and applying these insights to further enhance the development of global business competencies. This paper reviews 311 student interactions as reflected in comments exchanged in a digital social learning community and, using social network analysis, discusses the potential to use these interactions to assess student critical thinking, communication, and collaborative feedback skills. The authors conclude with implications and recommendations for instructors who want to use Web 2.0 platforms and data to enhance their understanding of student and class digital interactions, and apply this information to course enhancement.

Using Yellowdig in Marketing Courses: An Analysis of Individual Contributions and Social Interactions in Online Classroom Communities and Their Impact on Student Learning and Engagement

“…In this study, data was also analyzed with Social Network Analysis (SNA) in Gephi. Examples of SNA in education research include Feldstein and Gower (2015) who analyzed the network of comments exchanged by students in the knowledge-building blog deployed in an undergraduate brand management course. The authors found SNA provided an opportunity to gauge the communicative interactions that take place and to assess the relationship between the students' positions within the network, their communication and collaborative feedback skills, and course outcomes (Feldstein & Gower, 2015).…”

“…Examples of SNA in education research include Feldstein and Gower (2015) who analyzed the network of comments exchanged by students in the knowledge-building blog deployed in an undergraduate brand management course. The authors found SNA provided an opportunity to gauge the communicative interactions that take place and to assess the relationship between the students' positions within the network, their communication and collaborative feedback skills, and course outcomes (Feldstein & Gower, 2015). In addition to data visualization and SNA, multiple linear regression was used in this study to determine whether students' course grades could be predicted by their engagement using Yellowdig in the classes.…”

“…Rather than traditional summative assessment, whereby student learning is evaluated at the end of an instructional unit by comparing it against some standard or benchmark (e.g., a final paper or project), Yellowdig allows instructors to conduct formative assessment. As Feldstein and Gower (2015) wrote, "Using learning analytics to assess digital social learning platforms allow us to shift our focus from summative assessments of individual performance to visible, and in some cases actionable, behaviors and patterns at the individual and collaborative levels in the learning environment" (Feldstein & Gower, 2015, p. 6). With formative assessment, student learning and engagement are monitored to provide ongoing feedback to students.…”

“…Social learning is important in today's world and an essential part of our students' lives, both inside and outside the traditional face-to-face and online classrooms. Through social learning, students can develop critical thinking, oral and written communication skills, and collaboration skills such as giving and receiving feedback (Feldstein & Gower, 2015). In the marketing classroom, in particular, social learning and the use of social media platforms like Yellowdig can be powerful.…”

Agent-based Individual Network Teaching System for Modern History Outline of China

“…Network science was proposed as a method to better comprehend the contribution of networking and interactivity among health professionals in professional communities regarding their learning and application of new practices over time. Feldstein et al [4] reviewed interactions of 311 students reflected in the comments in a digital social learning community and adopted social network analysis to discuss the possibility of applying these interactions to evaluate students' critical thinking, communication, and collaborative feedback skills. The authors summed up the implications and recommendations for instructors who hope to apply Web 2.0 platforms and data to strengthen their understanding of students and class digital interactions and adopt the information to enhance courses.…”