Assessing the crossdisciplinarity of technology‐enhanced learning with science overlay maps and diversity measures

This paper deals with the assessment of the crossdisciplinarity of technology‐enhanced learning ( TEL ). Based on a general discussion of the concept interdisciplinarity and a summary of the discussion in the field, two empirical methods from scientometrics are introduced and applied. Science overlay maps and the R ao‐ S tirling diversity index are used to analyze the TEL field with a scientometric analysis. The science overlay maps show that a wide variety of disciplines contributes to research in the field. The analysis reveals that the field has been operating on a relatively high level of crossdisciplinarity in the last 10 years compared with six other fields of reference. Only in 2004 a decrease in the level of crossdisciplinarity could be identified.