A Dashboard for Visualizing Deliberative Dialogue in Online Learning

New and emerging online trends in group education, work and communication have led to a dramatic increase in the quantity of information and connectivity without always supporting—and sometimes sacrificing—quality. An important opportunity is that online systems can include tools that directly support participants in having higher quality and more skillful engagements. We are evaluating dialogue software features that support participants directly and "dashboard" tools that support third parties (mediators, teachers, facilitators, moderators, etc.) in supporting higher quality deliberation. We will focus on our work in educational settings (college classes) and on our development of a Facilitators Dashboard that visualizes dialogue quality indicators for use as facilitation tools or participant social awareness tools. The Dashboard makes use of text analysis methods to highlight indicators of dialogue quality. We are particularly interested in supporting the "social deliberative skills" that interlocutors need to build mutual understanding and mutual regard in complex or contentious situations.