New perspectives on computer-mediated communication research: a social network analysis approach

Abstract

This chapter formulates and applies a range of learning analytics methods for the analysis of computer-mediated communication (CMC) to improve our understanding of CMC text in educational contexts. It uses data from a case study in which foreign language learners at a Japanese university were given the opportunity to interact with their peers in a collaborative online space, part of a strategic self-regulated learning course (N=178). Students generated about 700 online postings on the platform Google Classroom. This chapter demonstrates how Social Network Analysis can be applied to analyse and visualise the ways students negotiate content, discover new resources, develop critical literacy skills, and above all, socialise. It is shown how students establish rapport online and how they give rise to a shared repertoire of experiences, stories, tools, and ways of addressing recurring problems.