Student reflections on the use of 360-degree video to support pseudo-synchronous collaborative mathematical problem solving in online learning environments

Online learning offers increased flexibility to students but also poses new complexities. For example, there are challenges in digitizing teaching approaches that rely on the co-construction of knowledge through social interaction and collaboration between learners. This study explores a novel pseudo-synchronous approach using 360-degree video to improve access to collaborative mathematical problem solving for online students. We trialed the use of 360-degree video extracts of authentic collaborative problem-solving situations to offer online learners the opportunity to engage with different approaches and methods in various mathematical problem-solving situations. Data were collected through online surveys and analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis to examine student experiences. The findings suggest students prefer face-to-face collaborative problem solving but see the value of having the 360-degree video as a support when face-to-face interaction is not available or for students choosing to engage in an online environment. The study demonstrates that pseudo-synchronous 360-degree video can provide meaningful collaborative learning experiences for asynchronous online learners.