Building Social Presence in Online Education

Through Course Design and Course Management: Continuing the

Conversation

Kia J. Bentley, Ph.D., LCSW School of Social Work kbentley@vcu.edu

Social Presence DefinedThe extent to which persons are perceived as “real” and “connected” in mediated communicationThe degree to which experiences seem unmediatedEvolved from “degree of salience” to “tangibility” and “proximity” to relational and affective connections that exist in mediated communicationNow connected to intimacy, identity and communityConsistently seen as “performative,” conveyed by visible activities of posting, commenting, responding and participating in group and community activities

Social Presence is……

Deeply rooted in the experiential, the subjective, and amorphous notions of human presence

A central influence on teaching and learning success

Conceptually and empirically linked to quality of online learning including participation, satisfaction and engagement

An antidote to skepticism about online learning

A Basic Argument

The intentional enhancement of social presence can truly help transform learning in ways especially pertinent to the learning needs of students and

many practice disciplines.

Professional practice is centered in:

Connective capabilities

Interpersonal exchanges

Collaboration with peers and clients

Shared problem-solving

Shared decision-making

Shared goal achievement

Constructivism Central Construct:

We build knowledge and understanding through our interactions and experiences with others.

Central Question(s) :

From a constructivist perspective, how can we (how do we) create an environment that supports meaningful interpersonal interactions, active participation, and receptivity to the subjective experiences of others?

How can we enhance this environment using virtual technologies?

Community of Inquiry Model

Social Presence: The extent to which persons are perceived to be “real,” and able to be authentically “known” and “connected” to others.

Teaching Presence: The structure and processes for learning, including creation of a plan for learning, direct teaching of content and basic facilitation of group discussion.

Cognitive Presence: Paths through which students are led to deeper or higher levels of learning through strategies that help students explore, integrate, critically reflect on, clarify, analyze, and come to resolution about new knowledge.

The Community of Inquiry Model is concerned with how these three dimensions come together to influence and support learning.

Where “Social Presence” Fits

Course Design Elements for Building Social Presence

Video welcome and lesson overviews Student introductions and profiles Collaborative learning activities (Group

Wikis, CLGs)

Strong emphasis on peer feedback & exchange (Search Summarize & Share, Interview Reaction, Book Review, Case Presentation)

Components of Social Presence and Their Cues in Discussion Boards,

Announcements, Emails and Lessons

Affective Responses

Open and Interactive

Communication

Cohesive Responses

• Expression of emotion• Humor, teasing, cajoling• Self-disclosure & expression of

values• Paralanguage• Explicit use of feeling words• Risk-taking & being vulnerable

• Probing questions• Expressing (dis)agreement• Giving affirmations/praise• Offering advice• Referring to other’s comments• Self-reflections

• Contribute to connection and sustaining relationships

• Offering personal greetings• Referring to group as “we” “us” • Inviting feedback• Sharing tangential information

Assessing Success To what extent was communication characterized by the cues? To what extent did students offer hints to their identities beyond

“student”? What were levels of sharing around their personal histories (their

culture, education, experience)? How much did you get to know the unique personality of individual

students (their attitudes, demeanor, and sense of humor)? How much sharing was there around their personal circumstances

(location, family situation, professional contexts)? To what extent did students talk about what they were learning

from each other? Did you as an instructor offer or create these opportunities for

social presence to thrive? How much student appreciation for peer sharing was expressed?

A Summative Question at Semester’s End

Post here any reflections you have about the most important aspects of

your learning for the semester. What really resonated for you? What do

you think will be the most useful? What have you learned about the

power of sharing stories, experiences and resources with your peers and

what are the implications of that for your professional development?

What will you do to continuing learning and growing in knowledge and

skills related to social work and

psychopharmacology? How can you maintain the values and

philosophy around recovery and partnership that were integral

to the course?

Appreciating the TensionsMaintain a supportive, accepting

nurturing milieuDecrease distance & share power

Value shared intellectual community Co-construction of learning

Need to set high academic standards Hold students accountable for participation and indeed facilitation of learningThe reality of “space” between participants and concomitant room for interpretation

Future Research In General

What are the relationships among social presence, cognitive presence, and teaching presence?

How will we define the “cues” and expanding the components?

What are the most effective techniques and strategies for building social presence?

How to social presence and student engagement overlap and relate?

What is the connection to “Quality Matters” criteria?

Future Research in Professional Education

Does social presence influence perceptions of the importance of peer relationships in everyday decision-making in real world practice?

How does social presence influence deep appreciation of diverse thought and experience?

How does social presence relate to the “use of self” by students?

How are the assets of social presence translated into the development of professional skills?

What resonated most today? What will you remember?

Thanks for your attendance today

Please offer comments and reactions (even critical ones)

What resonated?

What do we/you need

to think more about?