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Knowledge interdependence with the partner, accuracy of mutual knowledge model and computer-supported collaborative learning

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Abstract

The present study is part of a project aiming at empirically investigating the process of modeling the partner’s knowledge (Mutual Knowledge Modeling or MKM) in Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) settings. In this study, a macro-collaborative script was used to produce knowledge interdependence (KI) among colearners by providing them with different but complementary information. Prior to collaboration, two students read the same text in the “Same Information” (SI) condition while each of them read one of two complementary texts in the “Complementary Information” (CI) condition. After the collaboration phase, a knowledge modeling questionnaire asked participants to estimate both their own — and their partner’s outcome knowledge thanks to Likert-type scales. The relation between the accuracy with which co-learners assess their partner’s knowledge and learning has been examined. In addition, we investigated the KI effect on (a) learning performance and (b) the MKM accuracy. Finally, we wondered to what extent the MKM accuracy could mediate the KI effect on learning. Results showed no difference in learning performance between participants who worked on same information and participants who worked on complementary information. We also found that participants were more accurate at assessing their partner’s knowledge in the SI condition than in the CI condition. The discussion focuses on methodological limitations and provides new directions for investigating the KI effect on MKM accuracy.

Résumé

Cette étude s’inscrit dans un projet qui étudie le processus de modélisation des connaissances du partenaire (Modèle Mutuel ou MM) dans des situations d’apprentissage collaboratif médiatisé par ordinateur. Dans cette expérience, un script collaboratif a été utilisé qui consistait à introduire une interdépendance des ressources (IR) entre deux étudiants. Avant de collaborer, soit les étudiants lisaient le même texte (‘Informations Identiques’), soit chacun lisait un des deux textes complémentaires (‘Informations Complémentaires’). Après la collaboration, les étudiants estimaient leur propre niveau de connaissances ainsi que celui de leur partenaire. Nous nous intéressons à la relation entre l’apprentissage et la précision du MM. Nous étudions également l’effet de l’IR sur (a) les performances individuelles d’apprentissage, et (b) la précision du MM. Nous nous demandons enfin dans quelle mesure la précision du MM peut constituer une variable médiatrice de l’effet de l’IR sur l’apprentissage. Aucune différence de performance n’a été observée entre les deux conditions. Les résultats montrent par ailleurs que le MM est plus précis dans la condition ‘Informations identiques’ que dans la condition ‘Informations Complémentaires’. La discussion se centre sur les limites méthodologiques de l’expérience et apporte de nouvelles perspectives quant à l’étude de l’effet de l’IR sur la précision du MM.

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Correspondence to Gaëlle Molinari.

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The research that is reported here has been funded by the Swiss National Foundation for the Scientific Research (subside number 105513-106940).

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Molinari, G., Sangin, M., Dillenbourg, P. et al. Knowledge interdependence with the partner, accuracy of mutual knowledge model and computer-supported collaborative learning. Eur J Psychol Educ 24, 129–144 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03173006

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03173006

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