UC San Diego

Collaborative learning environments are a fundamental basis for evidence-based learning practices to help student learning experiences in STEM. However, current methods for understanding and observing groups are more qualitative than quantitative. This thesis discusses a framework for developing a quantitative method for observing groups using graph theory. The first section describes the theoretical and methodological framework of using graph theory to observe student communication. The second section discusses the development and use of an open source tool in R based on the methodological framework in the first section. The third section illustrates the use of this quantitative method on a cooperative learning style, the jigsaw classroom.