Post on 14-Jun-2015
description
Are You There?
Impact of Instructor Presence on Building a Virtual Community
Susan PattersonOld Dominion University
English 720
Distance education is growing, driven by competition and technology
Grant-Davie & Cargile Cook (2005)
It fits today’s lifestyles, too!
On some campuses, 1/3 of students take online courses
Smith, MacGregor,, Matthews, & Gabelnick, (2004)
Asynchronous virtual courses are on the rise
Mazzolini & Maddison, (2007)
Fostering asynchronous collaboration is challenging
Community as an engagement strategy is an emerging trend
Stebleton & Nownes, 2011
Community leads to satisfaction and collaboration
Liu, Magjuka, Bonk & Lee (2007)
Learning through community can be transformational
Ryman, Burrell, Hardham & Ross (2010)
Social construction of knowledge cannot happen
without participation.
Student participation is
essential for community
Bliss & Lawrence (2009)
But participation doesn’t happen
on its own
Dennen (2005)
Active instructor involvement can positively influence participation
Bliss & Lawrence (2009)
Bliss & Lawrence (2009)
Instructor presence fosters engagement
Mazzolini & Maddison (2007)
Presence is…
-more than just “being there” -more than housekeeping -not a result of frequency
Presence is “social”: affective – interactive – cohesive
Swan (2002), Pelz (2010)
So what does that look like?
What is the right balance of instructor
interaction?
What strategies can an instructor use to build community?
All this and more, coming to an ODU class
near you on April 29th!
Discussion
boards
Audio feedback
Questions t
hat
solic
it
multiple
perspectiv
es
Personal stories
Feedback on
discussion comments
Encourage
informal
interactions
Expressing questions
for own understanding
Clear
expectations
for participation
Initiate AND contribute
to discussion