SimPairing - Exploring Dynamic Pairing Policies through Historical Data Simulation and User-centered Research
Kexin Yang, Xuejian Wang, Vanessa Echeverria, Luettamae Lawrence, Kenneth Holstein, Nikol Rummel, Vincent Aleven
Jun 30, 2021 16:00 UTC+2
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Session B3
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Zoom link
Keywords: Peer tutoring, Learning Group formation (LGF), Pairing Policies, CSCL
Abstract:
Constructing effective and well-balanced learning groups is important for collaborative learning. Past research explored how group formation policies affect learners’ behaviors and performance. With the different classroom contexts, many groupformation policies work in theory, yet their feasibility is rarely investigated in authentic class sessions. In the current work, we define feasibility as the ratio of students being able to find available partners that satisfy a given group formation policy. Informed by user-centered research in K-12 classrooms, we simulated pairing policies on historical data from an intelligent tutoring system (ITS), a process we refer to as SimPairing. As part of the process for designing a pairing orchestration tool, this study contributes insights into the feasibility of four dynamic pairing policies, and how the feasibility varies depending on parameters in the pairing policies or different classes. We found that on average, dynamically pairing students based on their in-the-moment wheel-spinning status can pair most struggling students, even with moderate constraints of restricted pairings. In addition, we found there is a trade-off between the required knowledge heterogeneity and policy feasibility. Furthermore, the feasibility of pairing policies can vary across different classes,suggesting a need for customization regarding pairing policies.