Social Presence in Online Courses -- Webinar

Social Presence in Online Courses

Patrick R. Lowenthal Boise State University

@plowenthal

slides @ patricklowenthal.com


A Bit about MeAssistant Professor @ Boise State

educatorresearcher designer developer


HISTORY OF SOCIAL PRESENCE

Social Presence TheorySocial presence is the degree of salience (i.e., quality or state of being there) between two communicators using a communication medium.


Less Social Presence More Social Presence


Focused on 1-on-1


1980’s & CMCCuelessness Theory developed by Rutter (1984, 1987)

Media Richness Theory developed by Daft & Lengel (1984, 1986; Daft, Lengel, & Trevino, 1987)


EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL PRESENCE


Timeline

1970 1976 1979 1984 1992 1995 1999

Social P

resen

ce

Short e

t al.

Cueless

ness

Rutter Med

ia Rich

ness

Daft &

Lenge

l

Social In

formati

on Process

ing

Walthe

rSocia

l Pres

ence

Gunaw

arden

a

Community of In

quiry

Garriso

n et a

l.


Phase Period Key Figures Focus of Research1. 1970s Short et al. Focused on

Telecommunications2. 1980s to early

1990sRutterDaft & LengelKieslerWalther

Focused on CMC

3. Early 1990s to early 2000s

GunarwardenaGarrison et al.TuSwanRichardson

Focused on Online Learning

4. Mid 2000s to present

GarrisonSheaCleveland-InnesAkyolSwan Richardson

Focused on Online Learning & the CoI


Affective Communication• Expression of emotions• Use of humor• Self-disclosure

Cohesive Communication• Continuing a thread• Quoting from others’ messages• Referring explicitly to other’s messages• Asking questions• Complimenting, expressing

appreciation• Expressing agreement

Interactive Communication• Vocatives• Refers to group using inclusive

pronouns• Phatics, salutations

+


Focused on Many-to-Many


Varied Understandings

Emotional Nonemotional

Connection Nonconnection

Community Noncommunity


Social Presence

LearningCommunity=

Building Community

InteractionSocial Presence

Collaboration Community


SOCIAL PRESENCE STRATEGIES

Social Presence Strategies

Bio strategies

Orientation strategies

Reconnecting strategies

Feedback strategies

Discussion strategies

Small group strategies

Organic interaction strategies

Teacher Bios

Digital Stories

Scholarship & Philosophy

For more info:Intentional Web Presence: 10 SEO Strategies Every Academic Needs to Know

For more info:From Pixel on a Screen to Real Person in Your Students’ Lives: Establishing Social Presence…

http://patricklowenthal.com/establishing-social-presence-using-digital-storytelling/

http://youtu.be/VL0QkVu5t6w

Student Bios

Aladdin’s Lamp

Superhero Powers

Digital Stories

For more info:Getting to know you: The first week of class and beyond

http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/CUOnline/FacultyResources/additionalResources/Handbook/cuonlinehandbook2011/Pages/Chapter10.aspx

Student Bios5 minute phone call

Student Bios

Photo Roster5 minute phone call For more info:

Defeating the Kobayashi Maru: Supporting Student Retention by Balancing the Needs of the Many and the One

http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/defeating-kobayashi-maru-supporting-student-retention-balancing-needs-many-and-one


Orientation Strategies

Orientation Videos

Detailed Announcements & Emails

Reconnecting Strategies

Soundtrack of your life

Virtual Paper BagFor more info:Hot for teacher: Using digital music to enhance student’s experience in online courses

http://patricklowenthal.com/hot-for-teacher-using-digital-music-to-enhance-students-experience-in-online-courses/

Feedback StrategiesVideo Feedback

Discussion StrategiesNon-threatening discussions

Discussion Protocols

Synchronous Discussions

For more info:Protocols for Online Discussions

http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/CUOnline/FacultyResources/additionalResources/Handbook/Documents/DiscussionProtocols.pdf

Small Group StrategiesPeer Review

Group Work

Document Co-Creation

For more info:Learning, unlearning, and relearning: Using Web 2.0 technologies to support the development of lifelong learning skills

http://patricklowenthal.com/learning-unlearning-and-relearning-using-web-2-0-technologies-to-support-the-development-of-lifelong-learning-skills/

Organic Interaction Strategies

For more info:Tweeting the night away: Using Twitter to enhance social presence

Social Media

http://patricklowenthal.com/tweeting-the-night-away-using-twitter-to-enhance-social-presence/


RECENT WORK ON SOCIAL PRESENCE


Instructor Social Presence


Situated/location-based Presence


Video Is Not Always King

@CONTACT ME

Patrick [email protected]

Social Presence in Online Courses -- Webinar

Education

Transcript of Social Presence in Online Courses -- Webinar