Developing an in-application shared view metric to capture collaborative learning in a multi-platform astronomy simulation

There has been recent interest in the design of collaborative learning activities that are distributed across multiple technology devices for students to engage in scientific inquiry. Emerging research has begun to investigate students' collaborative behaviors across different device types and students' shared attention by tracking eye gaze, body posture, and their interactions with the digital environment. Using a 3D astronomy simulation that leverages a VR headset and tablet computers, this paper builds on the ideas described in eye-gaze studies by developing and implementing a metric of shared viewing across multiple devices. Preliminary findings suggest that a higher level of shared view could be related to increased conceptual discussion, as well as point to an early-stage pattern of behavior of decreased SV to prompt facilitator intervention to refocus collaborative efforts. We hope this metric will be a promising first step in further understanding and assessing the quality of collaboration across multiple device platforms in a single shared space. This paper provides an in depth look at a highly exploratory stage of a broader research trajectory to establish a robust, effective way to track screen views, including providing resources to teachers when students engage in similar learning environments, and providing insight from log data to understand how students effectively collaborate.