Research On Learners’ Social Interaction In Online Learning Environment

In an online learning environment,information sharing and emotional exchange between teacher and learner or learner and learner is called social interaction.The interaction of learners with teachers and peer learners is the basis for the continued stable development and perpetual vitality of online education.Active negotiation,discussion and interaction can not only promote learners’ understanding and internalization of knowledge,but also improve learners’ participation.In addition,it can alleviate the loneliness caused by the time and space boundary of learners and meet their knowledge and emotional needs.This paper is important for promoting learners’ motivation to interact.Because the problems of social interaction in an online learning environment are analysed,influencing factors are explored and an online learning community of practice platform based on connectivity is constructed.Firstly,it analyzes the problems of social interaction between teacher and learner or learner and learner in an online learning environment.Two courses in MOOC,an online education platform favored by teachers and learners,are selected as the research object.The interactive data between teachers and learners in the discussion area is analyzed by social network analysis and Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic model.It is found that there are three main problems existing in learners’ social interaction in an online learning environment.Insufficient two-way interaction,limited role of replies,insufficient participation,poor enthusiasm,shallow interaction,scattered discussion topics,etc.Secondly,an analysis of the factors influencing learners’ social interactions in an online learning environment was conducted based on structural equation modelling.Based on the analysis of the problems of social intercourse,this study selected the influencing factors of social interaction through literature review and learner interview based on Social Cognition Theory,De Lone and Mc Lean Model OIS Success and Technology Acceptance Model.The influence on learners’ social interaction is analyzed from the dimensions of learners themselves,teachers,peer learners and the external environment.Learners themselves include efficacy,interactive attitude,interaction intention,perceived usefulness and perceived accessibility,etc.The teacher factor mainly refers to teacher support.Trust and reciprocity are included in the peer learner factor.Platform quality,quality of information,service quality are included in the external environment.The selection of impact factor indicators was followed by 17 research hypotheses based on existing research and theoretical foundations.Then some undergraduates and postgraduates of Y University were selected for investigation by a questionnaire survey.The structural equation model of influencing factors was constructed.It is concluded that efficacy,expected results and interaction intention are the direct influencing factors of social interaction behavior.The rest of the factors have an indirect effect on social interaction behaviour.Finally,this paper constructs a network learning community practice platform based on connectionism learning theory.To increase the motivation of learners to engage in interaction.This study constructs an online learning community practice platform based on Connectivism as a theoretical underpinning.The platform mainly includes the functional modules of the course center and learning exchange center.The functional module of the learning exchange center mainly includes resource sharing area,public discussion area,group discussion area and private chat area.After the platform design and development,the application effect of learners is investigated and analyzed.From the application effect can know that the overall interface design of the network learning community practice platform is friendly and interactive.It provides a good interaction space and various ways of communication for learners.It has a certain promoting effect on learners’ participation,enthusiasm and investment in learning.