Constructivist Dialogue Mapping Analysis of Ant Adaptation

• Published in: Informatics in education Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 77 - 112
• Main Authors: MARTIN, Kit, HORN, Michael, Wilensky, Uri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vilnius Vilniaus Universiteto Leidykla 2020; Vilnius University Press; Institute of Mathematics and Informatics; Vilnius University
• Subjects: Adaptation; agent-based models; Automation; Child Development; Children & youth; Cognitive Psychology; Cognitive Structures; complexity research; Concept Formation; Concept Mapping; conceptual change; constructionism; Constructivism; Constructivism (Learning); Educational Games; Educational Psychology; Entomology; evaluation; Feedback (Response); Group Instruction; Inferences; Informal Education; Learning; Learning Activities; Methods; Museums; Object Permanence; Ontology; qualitative methods; Time; evaluation; complexity research; concept mapping; agentbased models; constructivism; qualitative methods; conceptual change; constructionism
• ISSN: 1648-5831; 2335-8971
• DOI: 10.15388/INFEDU.2020.05

This paper introduces constructivist dialogue mapping (CDM), a new type of concept mapping. CDM encodes what people learn during a non-goal directed learning activity. CDM is a practical means to outline the mini theories users fluidly construct as they explore open-ended learning environments. To demonstrate the method, in this paper we use CDM to track how two modelers elaborate understandings during use of a constructionist learning game, Ant Adaptation. Using the method, we show how two users contest and construct their idea of self-organization in ant colonies. The method is rooted in constructionism, constructivism, concept mapping, and conceptual change.