Investigating teams of neuro-typical and neuro-atypical students learning together using COGLE: a multi case study

Manish Malik, Julie Ann Sime

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

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    Abstract

    This Work in Progress Research paper aims to contribute to theories relevant to trust, self-efficacy and team effectiveness in engineering student teams. Self-efficacy and trust in teammates are both crucial for team effectiveness. Borrego et al. in a review on team effectiveness within engineering education have highlighted the scarcity of research on psychological constructs, such as trust. This work was inspired by their call for more research that connects engineering education research with the industrial and organisational psychology literature to improve engineering education practice and the outcomes relating to team working. Team working depends on social and communication skills of individual teammates. However, collaborative teams can experience socio-communication challenges. These can be even more pronounced in neuro-atypical (NT) students. With an increasing number of students, hidden or diagnosed, who are neurologically atypical (NAT) within engineering courses investigating ways to support development of trust and self-efficacy has become even more important. Using two real-world case studies, the efficacy of the Computer Orchestrated Group Learning Environment (COGLE), a novel software intervention that supports the development of trust and self-efficacy of individuals in teams of neuro-typical and neuro-atypical students, is investigated using qualitative and quantitative methods. In particular to answer the two research questions: 1. How does the use of COGLE affect the self-efficacy of NT and NAT engineering students learning together? 2. How does the use of COGLE affect the development of trust between a team of NT and NAT engineering students learning together? The case studies show how COGLE can be used within two pedagogical approaches: Flipped Classroom and Project Based Learning, which are commonly used in engineering education. The learning gain data and related effect sizes from both cases show that COGLE was successful in enhancing self-efficacy in all students. Furthermore, both cases show three very interesting results relating to trust: firstly, the teammates developed trust in each other in just 4 two-hour sessions; secondly, the students, including the neuro-atypical students, were able to correct their trust due to varied interactions enabled by COGLE; and finally, as trust and self-efficacy was enhanced before students were asked to work together on a collaborative activity, it helped both neuro-typical and neuro-atypical students to be fully involved in team work, thereby improving the team's effectiveness. The implication for practice is that COGLE can be used to effectively prepare all students for as shown by learning gain and increased levels of trust and enhance team effectiveness.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publication2020 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE 2020 - Proceedings
    PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
    ISBN (Electronic)9781728189611
    ISBN (Print)9781728189628
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 4 Dec 2020
    Event2020 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference - Uppsala, Sweden
    Duration: 21 Oct 202024 Oct 2020

    Publication series

    NameProceedings - Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE
    ISSN (Print)1539-4565
    ISSN (Electronic)2377-634X

    Conference

    Conference2020 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference
    Abbreviated titleFIE 2020
    Country/TerritorySweden
    CityUppsala
    Period21/10/2024/10/20

    Keywords

    • ADHD
    • ASD
    • Computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL) at computer
    • Neurologically atypical and typical
    • Self-efficacy
    • Team effectiveness
    • Trust

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