written by
Eric Brewe,
Laird Kramer, and
George O'Brien
We describe our initial efforts at implementing social network analysis to visualize and quantify student interactions in Florida International University's Physics Learning Center. Developing a sense of community among students is one of the three pillars of an overall reform effort to increase participation in physics, and the sciences more broadly, at FIU. Our implementation of a research and learning community, embedded within a course reform effort, has led to increased recruitment and retention of physics majors. Finn and Rock [1997] link the academic and social integration of students to increased rates of retention. To identify these interactions, we have initiated an investigation that utilizes social network analysis to identify primary community participants. Community interactions are then characterized through the network's density and connectivity, shedding light on learning communities and participation. Preliminary results, further research questions, and future directions utilizing social network analysis are presented.
Physics Education Research Conference 2009
Part of the PER Conference series
Ann Arbor, Michigan:
July 29-30, 2009
Volume 1179, Pages 105-108
PERC 2009, community interaction, course reform, informal education, learning community, physics education, social integration, social network analysis, student interaction
Record Cloner:
Cloned from ComPADRE Item 9446
October 4, 2009
by Alea Smith
E. Brewe, L. Kramer, and G. O'Brien,, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2009, WWW Document, (http://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9459&DocID=1329).
Brewe, E., Kramer, L., & O'Brien, G. (2009, July 29-30). Investigating Student Communities with Network Analysis of Interactions in a Physics Learning Center. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Retrieved September 5, 2010, from http://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9459&DocID=1329
Brewe, E, L. Kramer, and G. O'Brien. "Investigating Student Communities with Network Analysis of Interactions in a Physics Learning Center." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 29-30, 2009. http://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9459&DocID=1329 (accessed 5 September 2010).
Brewe, Eric, Laird Kramer, and George O'Brien. "Investigating Student Communities with Network Analysis of Interactions in a Physics Learning Center." Physics Education Research Conference 2009. Ann Arbor, Michigan: 2009. 105-108 Vol. 1179 of PER Conference. 5 Sep. 2010 <http://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9459&DocID=1329>.
%A Eric Brewe %A Laird Kramer %A George O'Brien %T Investigating Student Communities with Network Analysis of Interactions in a Physics Learning Center %S PER Conference %V 1179 %D July 29-30 2009 %P 105-108 %C Ann Arbor, Michigan %U http://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9459&DocID=1329 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2009 %O July 29-30 %O application/pdf
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Brewe, Eric %A Kramer, Laird %A O'Brien, George %D July 29-30 2009 %T Investigating Student Communities with Network Analysis of Interactions in a Physics Learning Center %B Physics Education Research Conference 2009 %C Ann Arbor, Michigan %V 1179 %P 105-108 %S PER Conference %8 July 29-30 %U http://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9459&DocID=1329
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