A Frame work for Developing Collaborative Community Building Tools for Novice Computer Science Students

Students enrolled in introductory computer science courses tend towards individual work because of pedagogical practices discouraging collaboration and a focus on individual assignments. This can discourage new computer science students and may negatively affect persistence in computer science. In contrast, social learning theory research suggests a connection between student success and involvement with the learning community. The research presented in this paper puts forth a framework based on social learning theories and teaching and learning methodologies. Tools using this framework will leverage social computing towards building stronger, more connected, social networks and contribute to greater success in student learning outcomes. Using a learner-centered design method, this framework seeks to maintain a focus on the important design questions: how should learning opportunities be scaffolded in a social computing environment? How can we make people more effective learners and promote peer collaboration? How should we motivate learners to remain engaged and form connections? Based on this, the framework speaks to the following guidelines for successful tools stimulating social interaction in a learning environment: 1) scaffolded activities to structure and stimulate community and tool engagement, 2) motivation generating techniques to increase user interaction, 3) competition and community building features supported through gamification to foster learner success. Tools built from this framework’s requirements should promote higher levels of interaction and lead to improved learning outcomes, attitudes, and social connectedness by supporting collaboration and problem solving. Further, the framework developed in this paper sets the foundation for future research testing the efficacy of interventions built around a social computing hub where problem solving takes place.