Casual Collaborations while Learning Mathematics with an Intelligent Tutoring System

Abstract. We have started exploring and facilitating natural collaborations between students sitting in contiguous computers. We implemented a mechanism to facilitate this kind of social interactions, instead of struggling against it. By allowing students to "force " specific problems they want, one student can pull up the math activity that another student is going through in their computer, thus capitalizing on this social interaction for a shared problem-solving experience. In a research study, collaboration between friends foster greater development of scientific reasoning when compared with collaboration between mere acquaintances. As part of this research article, we will present pilot data reporting on engagement levels and other "within the system" indicators of learning and progress, as students go through mathematics activities where pairs were collaborating, and compare these within-tutor outcomes to other students that did not have this kind of emergent behavior.