User models of students social interaction in e-learning based on learning orientation profile

Abstract

Research on user modelling has blossomed in recent years. The user model is designed to represent characteristics of users or students, including preferences, knowledge, competencies, tasks and objectives. The user model helps instructors to monitor students’ learning processes and to clearly see the outcome and effectiveness of the learning. Therefore, it is necessary to fill in the gap of no research done on user modelling for each Learning Orientations Profile with regard to social interactions in e-learning. Therefore, this research was done with the objectives to investigate students’ social interactions in e-learning and synthesize a user model for each learner’s profile based on students’ social interactions in e-learning. Accordingly, this research was done by referring quantitative research design that follows inferential approach. Therefore, firstly, students are categorized into four Learning Orientations Profiles, which are Transformance, Performance, Conformance and Resistance. All students learned through the same e-learning system for fifteen weeks. Then, the number of frequencies of their social interactions in e-learning are analyzed through the e-learning database. The interactions are including students’ involvement in social interactivity functions such as forum, chatting, and messaging. The data analyzed is then synthesized into a user model for each Learning Orientations Profile. Thus, four user models for all four Learning Orientations Profiles are the expected output of this research. Significantly, in order to emphasize individual difference in learning, the user models could be used by instructors or researchers to design and develop social interactivity functions that suitable for each Learning Orientations Profile.