WIP: Examining Disparities in Mathematical Literacy Within an Asynchronous Online Discussion Community through Core & Periphery & Extra-Periphery Structure

The importance of discussing support for learning within online learning communities is widely recognized, yet the diverse user behaviors, especially in the realm of online math learning, are not thoroughly investigated. This work in progress research paper explores the mathematical literacies, and success rates of discussion learning among students taking on different participation roles in an asynchronous online math learning setting. This inquiry is pivotal for comprehending the mechanisms that uphold online learning communities and can provide insights for crafting online discussion activities. This paper employs a mixed-methods approach to analyze big educational data and core-periphery structures within the community. Initially, users are classified into core, periphery, and X-periphery (extra) groups using an extended Surprise detection algorithm, which evaluates interaction quality. The Mann-Whitney U test is applied to assess differences in math literacy and discussion success rates among the groups. The findings reveal that each group is more responsive to its own members, with the core group exhibiting a more balanced response pattern. Notably, the X-periphery group shows the highest success rate in discussions, suggesting that lower activity levels do not compromise communication efficiency. Statistical analysis indicates that while the core and periphery groups have similar levels of math literacy, the X-periphery group excels in all three types of mathematical literacy assessed. These results highlight the importance of considering group dynamics and participation roles when designing online math learning activities to foster effective communication and support within the community. The study's insights into social support traffic offer practical implications for practitioners aiming to enhance the sustainability of online learning communities through tailored discussion activities.