Analyzing Learner Behaviors, Conflicting and Facilitating Factors of Online Collaborative Learning using Activity System

Abstract: This research examined learner behaviors, conflicting factors, and facilitating factors while students engaged in collaborative work via asynchronous computer-mediated communication (CMC). A total of 995 postings from 4 groups (19 students) in the spring semester (Study 1) and 6 groups (24 students) in the fall semester (Study 2) were analyzed. A coding scheme was generated based on constant comparison using NVivo 2. All the codes were reorganized via activity system and compared between high and low performing groups to see the difference in the patterns of learner behaviors. This study provides implications for online collaborative learning environment design and addresses challenges in using activity system to analyze learner behaviors