Online discussion research has mainly been conducted using case methods. This article proposes a method for comparative analysis based on network metrics such as information entropy and global network efficiency as more holistic measures characterizing social learning group dynamics. We applied social learning optimization analysis of networks…

With the growing attention to the effective use of social network analysis in explaining student learning in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, the authors explore why college students share knowledge and how they achieve their learning in a laboratory class. In particular, the authors investigate how the social…

This article demonstrates how network analysis of qualitative content can be used to build on traditional research approaches to confirm and expand prior findings and to point to fruitful directions for future research. Drawing on mixed methods research on policies and practices that improve access to study abroad at U.S. higher education…

Learning analytics (LA) has become an increasingly active field focusing on leveraging learning process data to understand and improve teaching and learning. With the explosive growth in the number of studies concerning LA, it is significant to investigate its research status and trends, particularly the thematic structure. Based on 3900 LA…

Social network analysis (SNA) is increasingly viewed as a contributing methodology to program evaluation to examine the complexities of social programs and interrelationships within the program networks. Despite the growing literature on the topic, more knowledge is needed to understand how, when, and under what conditions social network analysis…

Simulation games are widely used to teach negotiation skills in political science education. However, existing studies focus on the impact of simulation games on students' knowledge gains and affective changes and largely ignore skill assessment and development in the gaming environment. This study aimed to understand the process of student groups…

Providing coaching to participants in inquiry-based online discussions contributes to developing cognitive presence (CP) and higher-order thinking. However, a primary issue limiting quality and timely coaching is instructors' lack of tools to efficiently identify CP phases in massive discussion transcripts and effectively assess learners'…

The paper reports about the outcome of a systematic review of research on family resemblance approach (FRA) to nature of science in (NOS) science education. FRA is a relatively recent perspective on NOS being a system of cognitive-epistemic and social-institutional aspects of science. FRA thus consists of a set of categories such as aims and…

This article discusses the potential of mixed-method social network analysis (MMSNA) as a methodology for designing and conducting studies that address questions of interplay between human agency and social structures in educational settings. First, we discuss a rationale for using MMSNA referring to the theoretical calls for better understanding…

Social-media-based teacher learning networks have the affordance to grant flexibility of time and space for teachers' professional learning, support the development and sustainability of social networking, and meet their just-in-time needs for exchanging knowledge, negotiating meaning and accessing resources. However, most existing research on…

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of material incentives on the knowledge-sharing networks and information lifecycles of a public online forum. The users' interaction data were collected from two similar sub-forums, and one of them provided material incentives for sharing knowledge. After collecting user behaviors for one natural…

The purpose of this study was to analyse online newspaper articles on students with intellectual disabilities (IDs) in order to identify related social phenomena to derive implications for inclusive education. Such study has traditionally practised through content analysis and/or discourse analysis manually, which is prone to subjective…

Motivational factors have long attracted the attention of researchers and educators with their potential to shed light on what drives effective language learning. Although current research now views language learning motivation as a Complex Dynamic System (CDS), there is a dearth of empirical studies utilizing network analysis to understand how…

The digital revolution has heavily influenced digital game-based learning, yet as the revolution progresses, the conception of such learning has shifted along with the increasing complexity of the digital environment. Our study thus aims to identify research standing at this important juncture and to explain the shift in digital game-based…

Openness in education has received significant attention in recent years. To comprehend this concept in education ecosystems thoroughly, a longitudinal study is crucial, offering a comprehensive perspective of its evolution. The study utilizes bibliometric techniques, social network analysis, and text mining to investigate openness from its origin…