aect 2009 social presence
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TRANSCRIPT
Whydo I not have results to report?
Whyshould you stay?
Lowenthal, P. R., Lowenthal, D. A., & White, J. W. (2009, October). The changing nature of online communities of inquiry: An analysis of how discourse and time shapes students' perceptions of presence. Paper presented at the 2009 AECT International Convention, Louisville, KY.
Dunlap, J. C., & Lowenthal, P. R. (under review). Hot for teacher: Using digital music to enhance student’s experience in elearning courses. Submitted to TechTrends.
Lowenthal, P. R., & Dunlap, J. (in press). From pixel on a screen to real person in your students’ lives: Establishing social presence using digital storytelling. The Internet and Higher Education.
Dunlap, J. C., & Lowenthal, P. R. (2009). Tweeting the night away: Using Twitter to enhance social presence. Journal of Information Systems Education, 20(2), 129-136.
Lowenthal, P. R. (2009). The evolution and influence of social presence theory on online learning. In T. T. Kidd (Ed.), Online education and adult learning: New frontiers for teaching practices (pp. 124-139). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Lowenthal, A., & Lowenthal, P. R. (2009, April). Revisiting teaching presence: An analysis of teaching presence across discourse communities. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Education Research Association, San Diego, CA.
Lowenthal, P. R., & Parscal, T. (2008). Teaching presence. The Learning Curve, 3(4), 1-2, 4.
This presentation will,1.Review the literature on social presence (focusing on what it is and why its important),
2.Identify gaps in the literature, and
3.Describe my current research on social presence—including a mixed methods study currently being conducted on the nature of social presence and its relationship to student learning.
What is it?
Does Presence =
present ????
Social Presence Theory
Communications Studies Group at the University College in London in the 1970s
Short, J.A., Williams, E., & Christie, B. (1976). The social psychology of telecommunications. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Original Definition
Social presence is the degree of salience (i.e., quality or state of being there) between two communicators using a communication medium.
What does that mean?
1. It’s a quality of a communication medium.
2. Some media (e.g., video) have higher social presence than other media (e.g., audio)
3. Mediums with high social presence are sociable, warm, and personal; mediums with low social presence are as less personal.
For Example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfuS3m-Jhcc
Why does this matter?
Our lives have Changed
We are social beings!
Learning is social!
Computer-mediated CommunicationEarly CMC Research Suggested CMC is a lean medium CMC is better at task oriented
communication CMC is inherently antisocial and
impersonal
If learning is social and CMC
antisocial, where does leave us?
The Emergence of Online LearningProponents and practitioners argued CMC can support the social practice of
learning and be very interpersonal Learners can present themselves as being
“real” as well as “connect” with others Perceptions of social presence, and
behaviors used to make up for missing cues, matter just as much, if not more, than a medium’s supposed capabilities
The Emergence of Online LearningProponents and practitioners argued CMC can support the social practice of
learning and be very interpersonal Learners can present themselves as being
“real” as well as “connect” with others Perceptions of social presence, and
behaviors used to make up for missing cues, matter just as much, if not more, than a medium’s supposed capabilities
The Emergence of Online LearningProponents and practitioners argued CMC can support the social practice of
learning and be very interpersonal Learners can present themselves as being
“real” as well as “connect” with others Perceptions of social presence, and
behaviors used to make up for missing cues, matter just as much, if not more, than a medium’s supposed capabilities
Phases of Social Presence Research
Phase Period Key Figures Focus of Research Phase 1
1970s
Short et al.
Focused on Telecommunications
Phase 2 1980s-early1990s Rutter Daft & Lengel Kiesler Walther
Focused on CMC
Phase 3 Early/ mid 1990s-Present
Gunawardena Rourke et al. Tu
Focused on Online Learning
Research on Social PresenceResearchers have shown—in varying
degrees: A relationship between social presence
and student satisfaction
A relationship between social presence and the development of a community of learners
A relationship between social presence and perceived learning
Research on Social PresenceResearchers have shown—in varying
degrees: A relationship between social presence
and student satisfaction
A relationship between social presence and the development of a community of learners
A relationship between social presence and perceived learning
Research on Social PresenceResearchers have shown—in varying
degrees: A relationship between social presence
and student satisfaction
A relationship between social presence and the development of a community of learners
A relationship between social presence and perceived learning
Limitations of Past Research
1. Multiple Definitions
Social Presence is, the “sense of being with another”
(Biocca, Harms, & Burgoon)
1. Multiple Definitions
Social Presence is, the “sense of being with another”
(Biocca, Harms, & Burgoon)
“the degree to which a person is perceived as a ‘real person’” (Gunawardena)
1. Multiple Definitions
Social Presence is, the “sense of being with another” (Biocca,
Harms, & Burgoon)
“the degree to which a person is perceived as a ‘real person’” (Gunawardena)
“a student’s sense of being in and belonging in a course and the ability to interact with other students and an instructor” (Picciano)
2. Conceptual / MethodologicalSocial Presence is very contextual but
research has not adequately focused on the context and how context changes everything
Gunawardena studied online conferences
Rourke et al. only analyzed one week of discussion
Wise et al. studies six week long independent study courses
3. Contradicting Findings
Some researchers have found that social presence behaviors decrease over time (Rourke, Anderson, Garrison, & Archer, 2001a), while others have not (Stacey, 2002)
Picciano (2002) found a relationship between social presence and student learning, while Wise et al. (2004) did not
Why does this matter to me?
My Current Research
1. Revisiting indicators of social presence in online discussions (with mixed and multiple methods) with a specific focus on their relationship to student learning
2. Differences in presence across discourse communities in accelerated courses
3. Ability of Twitter to establish and improve social presence
4. The power of digital music to establish and improve social presence
My Current Research
1. Revisiting indicators of social presence in online discussions (with mixed and multiple methods) with a specific focus on their relationship to student learning
2. Differences in presence across discourse communities in accelerated courses
3. Ability of Twitter to establish and improve social presence
4. The power of digital music to establish and improve social presence
My Current Research
1. Revisiting indicators of social presence in online discussions (with mixed and multiple methods) with a specific focus on their relationship to student learning
2. Differences in presence across discourse communities in accelerated courses
3. Ability of Twitter to establish and improve social presence
4. The power of digital music to establish and improve social presence
My Current Research
1. Revisiting indicators of social presence in online discussions (with mixed and multiple methods) with a specific focus on their relationship to student learning
2. Differences in presence across discourse communities in accelerated courses
3. Ability of Twitter to establish and improve social presence
4. The power of digital music to establish and improve social presence
One Example
Affective Responses
Expression of emotions
Use of Humor
Self-Disclosure
Cohesive Responses
Vocatives
Use of Inclusive Pronouns
Phatics / Salutations
+ + =Continuing a Thread
Quoting from Other Messages
Referring Explicitly to Other Messages
Asking Questions
Complimenting / Expressing Appreciation
Expressing Agreement
Interactive Responses Social Presence
Category & Indicators
Definition of Indicators Examples
Affective ResponsesParalanguage Features of text outside formal
syntax used to convey emotion (i.e., emoticons, exaggerated punctuation or spelling)
Someday……; How awful for you ; Mathcad is definitely NOT stand along software; Absolutely!!!!!
Emotion Use of descriptive words that indicate feelings (i.e., love, sad, hate, silly)
When I make a spelling mistake, I look and feel stupid; I get chills when I think of …
Value Expressing personal values, beliefs, and attitudes
I think it is a necessary evil; I feel our children have the same rights
Humor Use of humour—teasing cajoling, irony, sarcasm, understatement
God forbid leaving your house to go to the library
Self-Disclosure Sharing personal information, expressing vulnerability
I sound like an old lady; I am a closet writer; We had a similar problem
Interactive Responses
Acknowledgement
Referring directly to the contents of others’ messages; quoting from others’ messages agreement
Those ‘old machines’ sure were something; we won by a landslide – ‘landslide’ (next response)
Disagreement Expressing agreement or disagreement with other’s messages
I’m with you on that; I agree; I think what you are saying is right
Approval Expressing approval, offering praise, encouragement
You make a good point; Right on; Good luck as you continue to learn
Invitation Asking questions or otherwise inviting response
Any suggestions?; Would you describe that for me, I am unfamiliar with the term
Personal Advice Offering specific advice to classmates
Also the CEC website might have some references
Cohesive ResponsesGreetings & Salutations
Greetings, closures Hi Mary; That’s it for now, Tom
Vocatives Addressing classmates by name
You know, Tamara, …; I totally agree with you Katherine
Group Reference Referring to the group as ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’
We need to be educated; Our use of the Internet may not be free
Social Sharing Sharing information unrelated to the course
Happy Birthday!! to both of you!!!
Self-reflection Reflection on the course itself, a kind of self-awareness of the group
I would never have imagined that we could have been having a discussion like this when we first started this course
Strategies to Improve Social
Presence
Examples Provided by the Literature
Instructional Design: Instructors: Students: Develop overviews Provide opportunities
for student and teacher profiles within the learning management system
Incorporate audio and video within the course content following best practices for teaching and learning and ADA compliance standards
Limit class size Structure collaborative
learning activities Utilize group work
strategies Develop open-ended,
critical thinking discussion questions
Incorporate reflective activities
Utilize continuous and authentic assessment strategies
Post introductions and expectations documents before the students are given access to the course.
Contribute to discussion forum throughout the week
Provide suggested due dates for initial postings that promote mid-week engagement as opposed to weekend only postings
Launch discussion threads and summarize each thread at the end of the week
Promptly answer e-mail Provide frequent feedback Send progress reports on
participation and quality of postings
Strike up a conversation Share personal stories and
professional experiences Use expressions of emotions, e.g.
(smile) or (grin). Address students by name Allow students options for
addressing the instructor
Contribute to discussion forum throughout the week as opposed to waiting for the weekend
Promptly answer e-mail
Strike up a conversation
Share personal stories and experiences
Ask open-ended questions that promote discussion and require critical thinking
Use expressions of emotions, e.g. (smile) or (grin).
Strategies I Use
1. Learning stories2. Digital storytelling3. Regular participation in discussion forums4. Cyber Cafés 5. Fun activities (e.g., Let’s Rock)6. Use first names7. Alternative communication tools (e.g.,
Twitter)8. Synchronous video enabled chats9. Audio / Video feedback
Contact Me
dd
Patrick R. Lowenthal
www.patricklowenthal.com
twitter @plowenthal