seminar
Learning math collaboratively online in virtual math teams
Stahl’s theory of group cognition is an attempt to develop a new way of thinking about how small groups build knowledge and work together on problem-solving tasks in CSCL settings. He focuses on the processes that take place within the group itself, not in the individual minds of the participants nor in the community practices of their larger social context. This workshop is designed to provide participants a hands-on experience to work collaboratively on math problem solving in virtual math teams using the VMT software that Stahl’s research group has developed. Everyone attending the workshop is recommended to read the ICCE 2009 keynote talk that Stahl is giving on December 3 at the HKIEd. The talk is available at: http://GerryStahl.net/pub/icce2009keynote.pdf. During the workshop, participants will work in small online groups called virtual math teams. The teams will discuss three math topics: stick patterns, taxicab geometry and quadrilateral midpoints. This will be followed by discussions on the experience of learning math this way.
Gerry Stahl has studied, researched, taught and written about computer science, CSCL, human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence and Western philosophy. His book on Group Cognition reviews his research at the University of Colorado, where he developed a number of software systems to support collaboration. His new book, Studying Virtual Math Teams, presents findings from his research project at Drexel University, investigating online support for collaborative mathematics exploration. He has been founding editor of the International Journal of CSCL for the past four years. Stahl’s website (http://GerryStahl.net) contains all his writings and many resources related to CSCL, including conference proceedings and videos (see http://GerryStahl.net/cscl). Among his many publications, he has authored introductions to CSCL, such as CSCL: An historical perspective, which is available in simplified and traditional Chinese as well as other languages on his CSCL webpage.