Northwest eLearn 2012 - Establishing Social Presence in Online Learning Environments

Establishing Social

Presence in Online

Learning Environments

Patrick R. Lowenthal Boise State University

@plowenthal

Joni Dunlap University of Colorado Denver

slides @ patricklowenthal.com

slides @ patricklowenthal.com

A Bit about MeInstructional designer @ Boise State (EdTech department)

slides @ patricklowenthal.com

Agenda

Background of Social Presence

Strategies We Use

Strategies You Use

I was scared the first time I taught online

slides @ patricklowenthal.com

slides @ patricklowenthal.com

I was scared that I would not connect with my students

Why does connecting matter?

slides @ patricklowenthal.com

Theory of Social Presence

For more info:The evolution and influence of social presence theory on online learning

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

It’s a quality of a communication medium.

Some media (e.g., video) have higher social presence than other media (e.g., audio)

Media w/ high social presence are sociable, warm, and personal; media w/ low social presence are as less personal.

What does all this mean?

It’s a quality of a communication medium.

Some media (e.g., video) have higher social presence than other media (e.g., audio)

Media w/ high social presence are sociable, warm, and personal; media w/ low social presence are as less personal.

What does all this mean?

It’s a quality of a communication medium.

Some media (e.g., video) have higher social presence than other media (e.g., audio)

Media w/ high social presence are sociable, warm, and personal; media w/ low social presence are as less personal.

What does all this mean?

Social Presence is Complicated

“Being there” might not always feel good

Why

does this matter?

Our Lives Have Changed

We are social beings!

Learning is social!

Can learning happen online?

Questions so far?

????

slides @ patricklowenthal.com

Agenda

Background of Social Presence

Strategies We Use

Strategies You Use

slides @ patricklowenthal.com

High Tech &

Low Tech Strategies

Social Presence Strategies

Bio strategies

Orientation strategies

Reconnecting strategies

Feedback strategies

Discussion strategies

Small group strategies

Organic interaction strategies

&Bios Strategies

Teacher Bios

Student Bios

Teacher Bios

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

Sharing Scholarship

Sharing Teaching Philosophy

Teacher Bios

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

Digital Stories

Student Bios

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

Aladdin’s Lamp

Superhero Powers

Student Bios

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

5 minute phone call

Student Bios

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

Digital Stories

Student BiosPhoto Roster

slides @ patricklowenthal.com

Orientation StrategiesOrientation Videos

Orientation Strategies

Detailed Announcements & Emails

Reconnecting StrategiesSoundtrack of your life

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

Reconnecting StrategiesVirtual Paper Bag & Superhero Powers

Feedback StrategiesVideo Feedback

Discussion Strategies

Non-threatening discussions

Discussion Protocols

Synchronous Discussions

For more info:Protocols for Online Discussions

Small Group Strategies

Peer 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

Organic Interaction Strategies

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

Social Media

Other Strategies?Let’s Share

If There’s TimeLet’s Create a Google Doc Together

http://tinyurl.com/socialpresence-share

Thanks!

slides @ www.patricklowenthal.comemail @ patricklowenthal@boisestate.edu