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.