Learning Presence and the Reconceptualization of Language and Literacy Teachers’ Online Professional Development

Besides teaching the way they were taught, teachers teach the way they learned (Oleson & Hora, 2014). Thus, if teachers are to be guided to teach online effectively, their learning experiences and the ways they learn online need to be understood. This study focused on second/foreign language and literacy teachers’ (LLTs) Learning Presence (LP) as they engaged online to update their teaching expertise in a formal, doctoral-level professional development program (PD). LP is defined as individuals’ self- and co-regulation of their behaviors in online environments in order to be effective learners (Shea et al., 2014). We undertook a mixed-method study involving a content analysis of 9 weeks of online seminar discussions, a 27-question survey that corresponded to Shea et al.’s (2014) LP framework and interviews with the LLTs. The prevalent patterns in the LLTs’ online engagement that emerged were in the Strategy Use and Monitoring LP categories. They demonstrated the nature of the engagement amongst LLTs, including peer-to-peer and heterarchical learning. The findings also provided evidence that when supported by the affordances of the online medium, the LLTs’ straddled “professionalization and professionalism” goals. In terms of the implications, the findings suggested a reconceptualization of three existing teacher PD models, including that of Darling-Hammond et al.’s (2017). The research’s limitations were also identified, pertaining to the way the study was structured, its instruments and their implementation, as well as the constraints of the LP framework itself. Finally, the study concluded with the next steps in research to address the limitations.

The influence of learning presence and self-directed learning competency of nursing students on learning satisfaction in major subjects for online distance learning

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the influence of learning presence and self-directed learning ability on nursing students’ learning satisfaction according to the online learning method.Methods: The participants of this study were 167 nursing students attending three universities in different cities. The data were collected from July 16 to July 23, 2021, via an online self-reported questionnaire. Using SPSS WIN 27.0, data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and a multiple regression analysis.Results: The most effective online learning method experienced by nursing students was asynchronous online learning according to 58.2% of the respondents, while 30.3% of the respondents answered synchronous online learning. The main merit of asynchronous online learning was that it was possible to listen repeatedly (61.7%) to lectures, and the top advantage of synchronous online learning was that the location of the class was free (53.3%). In asynchronous online learning, the factors that significantly affected nursing students’ learning satisfaction were cognitive presence (β=.60, p<.001) and emotional presence (β=.25, p<.001). These variables accounted for 56% of their learning satisfaction (F=54.12, p<.001). Similarly, cognitive presence (β=.64, p<.001) and emotional presence (β=.21, p=.001) in synchronous online learning, were the factors cited for significantly affecting learning satisfaction. The explanatory power was 62% (F=69.19, p<.001).Conclusions: In conclusion, it was found that cognitive and social presence from the learning presence factors in both asynchronous and synchronous online learning influence and enhance nursing students’ learning satisfaction. Therefore, these results provide important data for future online class design in nursing education.