RSA3: Enhancing Social Presence in Online Learning

RSA3:  Enhancing Social Presence in Online Learning:  Mediation Strategies Applied to Social Networking Tools

Link to resource:  http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/winter124/joyce124.html

Module 5 focuses on community and social presence within an online learning community.  Palloff and Pratt (2008) begin by highlighting the importance of community.  Humans naturally yearn for a sense of belonging.  But how does one “belong” in a virtual world?  Because of technological advancements, communities can no longer be tied to a place, but instead should be based around issues of identity and shared values (Palloff & Pratt, 2008).  Building an effective online community, then, requires the participant to establish his/her “presence” or “identity” in the online classroom.

Brown and Joyce (2009) describe social presence as the belief that each student is communicating with a person instead of an object.  Similarly, Palloff and Pratt (2008) mention that the degree in which the participant feels as if he/she is “real” influences his/her social presence.  Establishing an online presence requires the use of some sort of media.  Creating a virtual identity within an online classroom has more to do with the participant behavior online than the medium being used.  Participant behavior, then, has a greater impact on the development of presence.  Regardless of the social networking tool used, the student is ultimately responsible for creating his/her personal space and utilizing it in a way that will connect with others (Palloff & Pratt, 2008). 

         Brown and Joyce (2009) suggest that the medium being used enhances the member’s social presence which in turns provides a sense of community.  Social software communication tools, Web 2.0 tools,  that encourage interaction and social presence should be integrated within the computer-mediated classroom.  Instructors should use already familiar tools with students to enhance or further develop relationships that encourage a sense of community.  Brown and Joyce (2009) offer 8 activities that will help to support building a strong community of online learners.  These activities are:

1. Personal discussion folder
2. Immediacy (quick responses to emails, etc.)
3. Live chat
4. Personalized emails
5. Audio/Video communication tools in-lieu of text-based content
6. Regular updates and feedback
7. Group discussions
8. Private places (separate private area for students to discuss topics apart from general class discussion).

References

Brown, A., & Joyce, K. (2009). Enhancing social presence in online learning: Mediation strategies applied to social networking tools. In Retrieved from http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/winter124/joyce124.html

Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2008). Building online learning communities: Effective strategies for the virtual classroom. (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Inc Pub.