Using Social Network Analysis to Measure Student Collaboration in an Undergraduate Capstone Course

摘要

Social network analysis offers a unique way for instructors to visualize collaboration and communication within a course and see relationships between individuals, groups, teams, or cliques. We used social network analysis to measure the growth of collaboration in the capstone AGEDS 450 Farm Management and Operation course at Iowa State University. With the strategic implementation of collaboratively intense assignments, student collaboration grew from the midpoint of the semester to the end of the semester. Overall density of the network increased from 0.25 at the midpoint to 0.35 at the end of the semester (40% growth). Each student's number of communication ties increased over the course of the semester to 17.2. Average geodesic distance betweennodes decreased 11.7% from the midpoint to the end of the semester, resulting in an average pathway length of 1.66 to connect any two students; this improved communication efficiency in the course. No outpoint existed at the midpoint or the end of semester, showing no risk of collapse in the network. The overall network became more complex, indicating a more inclusive collaborative environment. We recommend that instructors include structured activities that emphasize student collaboration to help develop strong information networks in other courses.