A Pedagogically Oriented Agent-Based Model of Small-Group Discussion

Agent-based
models (ABMs) are widely applied to better understand complex relationships
linking individual behaviors and social phenomena and there is growing interest
in applying these models in education. However, ABMs are typically defined in
abstract ways that make interpretation difficult in classroom contexts. This work
describes an ABM of small-group discussion that differs from prior work in two
ways. One difference is that its abstractions are rooted in and interpreted
with theory that has direct relevance to pedagogical practice. A second
difference is the model draws on visualization techniques and measures to
enhance instructional interpretability. The model replicates general findings
previously reported, while affording a fine-grained view of both small-group
and individual development. A series of simulation studies demonstrate how the
model represents a more complete and readily interpretable system to explore,
understand, and theoretically ground the influence of environmental factors and
student and teacher behaviors on discussion-based learning.