Collaborative Problem Solving Using Social Network Media: How to Effectively Evaluate Student Performance in Online Study Group?

The tremendous educational benefits of online collaborative problem solving have been confirmed in numerous research studies. Many researches cited advantages that include the development of skills of critical thinking and problem solving as well as skills of self-reflection and co-construction of knowledge. Mostly, they used dedicated collaborative environment to control the group dynamics and few have used and exploited the use of public social network media due to the concern how to treat and control learning process and prevent classroom disruptions. Moreover, the establishment and maintenance of active collaboration in online study group in collaborative environment is a challenging task, primarily due to students' inability or reluctance to participate actively in the group work. Aiming to understand and contribute to the resolution of the problems of effective online group, a motivational approach has been incorporated by means of social network analysis. The general contribution of the paper is to show students' collaborative effort/work on-time, allowing themselves to re-adjust their individual performance on-time in the social network and to strive and contribute solutions during collaboration. Applying the social network analysis, a reward is given to learners' effort and contribution in the success of solving collaborative assignments.