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Yanhong Li, Daniel Sommerhoff, Stefen Ufer, Jim Slotta
Scripting Small Group Processes within a Learning Community
International Society of the Learning Sciences (ISLS)

Building on research concerned with scripting and learning communities, this study explored how to script small group processes within a larger community-wide script. Small group scripts, Peer Instruction (PI), Community Supported Worksheets (CSW), and Community Knowledge Construction (CKC), were designed and implemented in an online preparatory mathematics course for 181 freshmen. The completion rate and completion quality of group activities were analyzed. Except for CKC activities, PI and CSW had a satisfactory completion quality. We analyzed the impact of group activities on studentsâ epistemological beliefs about learning communities, and also performed content analyses of studentsâ ideas and artifacts, to show the reciprocal influence between the community and small groups. Results show students had a significant agreement that the whole community is an important source for learning. Meanwhile, after taking this course, they had a more profound conceptual understanding of the context, purpose, means, and challenges of the learning community.