Introduction intoSocial Network Analysis

Dragan Gašević

@dgasevic

Benefits of social context and interaction in

learning and education

Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (2009). An Educational Psychology Success Story: Social Interdependence Theory and Cooperative Learning. Educational Researcher, 38(5), 365-379. doi:10.3102/0013189X09339057

Higher levels of internalization through social interaction

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. M. Cole, V. John-Steiner, S. Scribner, & E. E. Souberman, (Eds.) Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Development of critical thinking

Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2001). Critical thinking, cognitive presence, and computer conferencing in distance education. American Journal of distance education, 15(1), 7-23.

Student retention in university

Tinto, V. (2006). Research and Practice of Student Retention: What Next?. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory and Practice, 8(1), 1-19. doi:10.2190/4YNU-4TMB-22DJ-AN4W

Academic performance

Gašević, D., Zouaq, A., Jenzen, R. (2013). Choose your classmates, your GPA is at stake!' The association of cross-class social ties and academic performance. American Behavioral Scientist, 57(10), 1459-1478. doi: 10.1177/0002764213479362

Social network analysis provides insights

how social processes unfold

“single most potent source of influence”

Astin, A. (1993). What matters in college: Four critical years revisited. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Social networks

Multidisciplinary nature of social network analysis

sociology, anthropology, communications, graph theory, mathematics, statistics,

computer science, physics, biology, economics, …

Next two weeks

Define social network analysis and its main analysis methods

Density, centrality, and modularity

Competence 1 – Week 3

Next two weeks

Perform social network analysis and visualize analysis results

in Gephi

Competence 2 – Week 3

Next two weeks

Describe and reflect on approaches to the use of

social network analysis for the study of learning

Competence 3 – Week 4

Next two weeks

Describe and interpret results of social network analysis

for the study of learning

Competence 4 – Week 4

Next two weeks

ResourcesVideos, hands-on activities (three),

assignments (five), reflections (two), collaboration activities (two),

supplementary readings