scholarly journals Teaching Presence in Online Courses: Similar Perceptions but Different Experiences from Multiple Instructor Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Murat Turk ◽  
Ali Ceyhun Muftuoglu ◽  
Sinem Toraman
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Teaching Presence ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Online Learning Environments ◽  
Multiple Case

Online course instructors’ perceptions and perspectives regarding their teaching presence as a key presence in online learning environments significantly influence, if not determine, their online teaching practices, which in turn influence the quality of online students’ learning experiences. Although gaining deeper insights into online course instructors’ perceptions and experiences of teaching presence is quite important and valuable for online education, there is still limited qualitative inquiry into this critical presence across diverse online teaching contexts. The purpose in this qualitative, multiple case study was to explore and understand online course instructors’ perceptions and experiences regarding their own presence in their online courses. We explored the perceptions and experiences of eight course instructors teaching undergraduate and graduate-level online courses at a midwestern U.S. college. Our findings indicated that teaching presence was uniformly considered important and necessary by the instructors although their applications and priorities regarding their teaching presence varied. We discussed our themes that emerged from our interview data and offered several theoretical and practical implications regarding teaching presence in online learning environments.

Taking a Hard Look at the Soft Skills of Online Course Design and Online Teaching in Higher Education

2017 ◽  
pp. 158-181
Author(s):  
Kevin P. Gosselin ◽  
Maria Northcote ◽  
Kristi D. Wuensche ◽  
Trudy Stoddard
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Online Course Design ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Online Educators

Over the past few decades, substantial growth has occurred in online education in general, and this has been particularly true of the higher education sector. Most universities and post-secondary institutions now offer students the opportunity to enroll in online pre-tertiary, vocational, undergraduate and/or postgraduate courses. While some of these courses are successful for the learners who enroll in them, others have been found somewhat deficient, often criticized for their lack of humanization, interaction, communication and online presence. This chapter examines the role of the so-called soft skills of online course design and online teaching that are seen as vital for online educators who are responsible for the facilitation of high quality online learning. Along with a review of relevant literature about the soft skills of online teaching, the chapter presents three institutional case studies from which a set of practically-focused recommendations for promoting the design of humanized online learning environments has been developed.

Encouraging and Increasing Student Engagement and Participation in an Online Classroom

2016 ◽  
pp. 426-447
Author(s):  
Kathryn Woods
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Traditional Classroom ◽  
Online Classroom ◽  
Online Learning Environments ◽  
The Impact

Advances in technology have increased opportunities for students to participate in online courses. While some instructors are beginning their careers teaching only online courses, others are discovering a need to teach sections of courses online after they have enjoyed a long career teaching in a traditional classroom. In either situation, it is important for instructors to recognize that students in online learning environments require the use of different strategies for encouraging engagement and participation in class. In this chapter, the author describes the challenges that students and instructors face specifically in the online learning environment as well as strategies for success, including how to maximize the impact of students' experiences and prior knowledge, using multiple platforms to deliver information, discouraging procrastination, setting clear expectations, encouraging individuality, capitalizing on diversity, and providing and utilizing helpful resources.

A Mixed Methods Examination of Instructor Social Presence in Accelerated Online Courses

2016 ◽  
pp. 147-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Ryan Lowenthal
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Social Presence ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Multiple Methods ◽  
Online Learning Environments ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Being There

Social Presence theory seeks to explain how people present themselves as being “there” and “real” while using a communication medium. Most studies on social presence focus on how students present themselves and/or are perceived as being “there” and “real” in computer-mediated environments. However, to date, very few studies have focused on how instructors establish and maintain their own social presence in online learning environments. The following study explored the phenomenon of instructor social presence in accelerated online courses. The results suggest that the construct of presence is more complicated than previously thought and that future studies should employ multiple methods to further explore the concept of instructor social presence.

A Mixed Methods Examination of Instructor Social Presence in Accelerated Online Courses

2016 ◽  
pp. 949-963
Author(s):  
Patrick R. Lowenthal
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Social Presence ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Multiple Methods ◽  
Online Learning Environments ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Being There

Social Presence theory seeks to explain how people present themselves as being “there” and “real” while using a communication medium. Most studies on social presence focus on how students present themselves and/or are perceived as being “there” and “real” in computer-mediated environments. However, to date, very few studies have focused on how instructors establish and maintain their own social presence in online learning environments. The following study explored the phenomenon of instructor social presence in accelerated online courses. The results suggest that the construct of presence is more complicated than previously thought and that future studies should employ multiple methods to further explore the concept of instructor social presence.

Effective Online Learning - Both a Utilization of Technology and Methods

2003 ◽  
pp. 179-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Frick ◽  
Michael Sautter ◽  
Svend Ovrebekk
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Models ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Online Learning Environments ◽  
Utilization Of Technology ◽  
Modeling Techniques ◽  
Learning Research ◽  
Good Learning

The authors have used modeling techniques to gain understanding of causes and relationships in online learning environments. The cases that the modeling relates to have their origin in the large Norwegian research project NettLæR, which runs online courses on various topics and levels. The modeling work seems to indicate that good learning models from earlier learning research may still be of relevance, but the conditions to make them work, and the context they operate in, are more limited and more critical than before.

The Importance of Social Presence and Strategies for Incorporating It Into an Online Course

2020 ◽  
pp. 107-122
Author(s):  
Joshua Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Social Presence ◽  
Course Delivery ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Online Learning Environments ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Online Interactions

As with any mode of course delivery, there are both positives and negatives to online learning. There are the commonly cited positive features of online learning like the removal of geographic restrictions and scheduling barriers. Limitations may include unfamiliarity for those new to online learning and misunderstandings resulting from the transition from primarily face-to-face interactions to only online interactions. One of the nice things about online learning environments is that many of the possible drawbacks can be countered turning them into strength. Building a strong social presence in an online course can help with this. This chapter discusses three categories of strategies for building a social presence; ice breakers, netiquette activities, and discussion activities.

scholarly journals Introducing a Pre-Determined Feedback Pool for Evaluating Students’ Online Discussion Participation

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-107
Author(s):  
Dilani Perera-Diltz ◽  
R.J. Davis ◽  
Sedef Uzuner Smith ◽  
Carl Sheperis
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Student Performance ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Online Learning Environments ◽  
Specific Focus ◽  
Instructor Feedback

As self-regulation for successful online learning is a relatively new focus in online education, more attention is directed toward initiatives to help students become more cognizant of their learning efforts in online learning environments. Grounded in the idea that self-regulation is feedback dependent, we argue for the necessity of instructor feedback on student performance in online classes.  The specific focus is instructor feedback on students’ online discussion contributions.  To assist instructors in managing their feedback practices in large online classes with numerous discussion entries, we present a feedback pool that includes a range of predetermined comments instructors can choose from while assessing their students’ discussion participation. 

Is This Your Best Work?

2018 ◽  
pp. 1535-1545
Author(s):  
Cynthia J. Benton
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Student Success ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Classroom Practices ◽  
Student Participation ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Online Classroom ◽  
Online Learning Environments ◽  
Student Responses

This chapter summarizes both psychological and achievement considerations for student participation in online learning environments. Using journaling, student responses, and interviews, this study yielded consistent conclusions regarding the need for supported and interactive opportunities for students to interact with both peers and the instructor of the online course. Online classroom practices are described, and a number of issues contributing to student success and satisfaction are summarized. Future concerns for practices in online instruction and student learning are described.

Is This Your Best Work?

2014 ◽  
pp. 82-91
Author(s):  
Cynthia J. Benton
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Student Success ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Classroom Practices ◽  
Student Participation ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Online Classroom ◽  
Online Learning Environments ◽  
Student Responses

This chapter summarizes both psychological and achievement considerations for student participation in online learning environments. Using journaling, student responses, and interviews, this study yielded consistent conclusions regarding the need for supported and interactive opportunities for students to interact with both peers and the instructor of the online course. Online classroom practices are described, and a number of issues contributing to student success and satisfaction are summarized. Future concerns for practices in online instruction and student learning are described.

scholarly journals Instructors’ Perceptions of Instructor Presence in Online Learning Environments

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer C. Richardson ◽  
Erin Besser ◽  
Adrie Koehler ◽  
JiEun Lim ◽  
Marquetta Strait
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Master's Program ◽  
Online Instructors ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Instructor Presence ◽  
Multiple Case

<p class="2">As online learning continues to grow significantly, various efforts have been explored and implemented in order to improve the instructional experiences of students.  Specifically, research indicates that how an instructor establishes his or her presence in an online environment can have important implications for the students’ overall learning experience. While instructor presence appears to be an important aspect of online learning, more research is needed to fully understand this construct. The purpose of this study was to consider online instructors’ perceptions related to presence, beliefs about actions, and the perceived impact of instructional presence. Using an explanatory multiple-case study approach, this research considered the perspectives of 13 instructors teaching in an online master’s program at a large Midwestern public university.  Results indicate instructors viewed instructor presence as an important component in online courses but their reasons varied. Furthermore, the instructors discussed a number of communication strategies they used, the importance of using such strategies to connect to students, and the potential impact of these strategies on student participation and learning. Additional themes from the interview data are discussed, and implications for online teaching and learning are suggested.</p>

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