Peer Production of Online Learning Resources: A Social Network Analysis

This paper describes methods for collecting user activity data in a peer production educational system, the Instructional Architect (IA), and then takes a social network perspective in analyzing these data. In particular, rather than focusing on content produced, it focuses on the relationship between users (teachers), and how they can be analyzed to identify important users and likeminded user groups. Our analyses and results provide an example for how to select the most important factors in analyzing the dynamics of an online peer production community using social network analysis metrics, such as in-degree, out-degree, betweenness, clique, and community. In this way, this paper contributes both to process and outcomes research.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2010
• Where: EDM
• Authors: Beijie Xu, Mimi Recker
• Keywords: Data Mining, EDM 2010, Paper Describes Methods, Peer Production, Social Network