在线学习中活动感知对社会性技能、社群归属感和学习满意度的影响

本研究目的在于探讨增强性的活动感知与网上学习的社会性互动本质之间的关系及其相互影响。作为一个基于设计的研究项目,我们已建立了对网路学习之社会性因素的深入了解,且开发了一个背景感知活动通知系统以支持活动感知,用于提升学习者网上学习的社会性技能。本研究通过问卷调查的方法收集资料,主要针对六门使用活动感知支持系统的网上学习课程,学生对其自身网上学习经验的认知。研究结果显示,学生获取活动讯息的途径、他们对活动讯息有效性的认知,对他们网上学习的社会性技能、社群归属感、以及学习满意度有正向的影响。此外,学生的网上社会性技能的组成要素也以不同的方式影响着他们的网上社群归属感和学习满意度,例如,学生对同伴与教师存在的感知以及分享个人资料的舒适度,影响着他们对社群归属感的认知;学生对教师存在的认识和社群归属感,也影响他们的学习满意度。     

Exploring the Roles of Social Presence and Gender Difference in Online Learning

Online learning has become more popular in higher education with its advantages of flexibility and accessibility. However, there have been challenges to students’ learning experience in online learning. One critical challenge would be providing interactions between students and instructors as good or effective as in the face‐to‐face environment. However, providing face‐to‐face interactions in online learning is not feasible because students and instructors are not physically present together. In this study, we introduce and empirically investigate social presence as student learning experience in online learning in which physical presence does not exist. Drawing upon the social presence and online learning literature, we propose a research model to explore how the interactivity of communication tools can drive social presence and student satisfaction in online learning. Furthermore, this study examines gender difference as a moderator in the model. Data were collected from undergraduate students who were taking online business statistics courses where an interactive communication tool was required to use for class communication and collaboration. The results showed that social presence driven by tool interactivity had a significant impact on student satisfaction in online learning. We also found that gender difference moderated the relationship between tool interactivity and social presence in online learning.     

Using Facebook groups to support social presence in online learning

Building interpersonal connections in asynchronous online learning is important, but it is harder to achieve compared to face-to-face learning experiences due to its mostly text-based nature. Facebook is a popular social media platform and has been used as an outside-class communication space in formal learning contexts to supplement cognitive and affective aspects of learning. In this study, we used Facebook groups as supplemental social spaces in two asynchronous online master’s-level courses to understand if it impacted students’ perceptions of social presence (i.e., copresence, immediacy, and intimacy), learning interaction with faculty and peers, as well as sociability of the online learning environment. The results indicated that students felt more positively about social presence and learning interactions with other classmates and their instructor and perceived the course as having more sociability after they joined the class Facebook group. Findings have implications for supporting social impression formation in online learning.     

Building modern online social presence: A review of social presence theory and its instructional design implications for future trends

Nowadays, online learning has become a popular option for students because of its flexibility and more online programs are customized to students’ needs. Among all the factors that affect students’ online learning experience, social presence is worth much study considering the asynchronous nature of online learning and communication issues between online instructors and students. This paper reviews the origin, major definitions of social presence and research studies throughout history. Authors also document arguments of the optimal amount of social presence and provide instructional design suggestions for the development of online social presence. Further trends for social presence studies are also proposed at the end of the article.     

Facilitating active social presence and meaningful interactions in online learning

Online learning has minimized many barriers and constraints that are common in traditional learning environments. However, due to the absence of face-to-face contacts, students and instructors are usually faced with the lack of active social presence and meaningful interactions in online learning. This article explores a review of the literature on social presence and various types of interactions in online learning environments in the context of a class project. The findings suggest need for online instructors to explore effective ways to design and facilitate active social presence and meaningful interactions in online learning.     

Theoretical foundations for enhancing social connectedness in online learning environments

Group social structure provides a comfortable and predictable context for interaction in learning environments. Students in face‐to‐face learning environments process social information about others in order to assess traits, predict behaviors, and determine qualifications for assuming particular responsibilities within a group. In online learning environments, however, negotiating social information and maintaining social connectedness can pose challenges for participants. Nonverbal strategies one typically uses for enhancing communication and overcoming ambiguity – such as an approving smile or a questioning brow – must be approached differently while learning online where fewer sensory communication channels are typically available. We present the theoretical foundation for how social information processing and group structure theories may be combined to assist instructional designers in further examining the social system perceived by the online learner. We propose a framework for thinking more systematically about the development of group social structure in online learning environments.     

学习分析技术支持下的教师在线学习行为特征分析

在线学习已成为教师专业发展的主要途径,参加学习的人员规模大、行为表现复杂。为了探析教师在线学习行为的群体特征,该文以Y市四期教师在线培训为例,应用统计分析、序列分析、关联规则、社会网络分析等方法,从学习活跃、学习投入时间、学习行为序列、社会交互四个方面分析了教师在线学习行为的群体特征。研究发现:教师在线学习活跃性较高;在线学习时间投入充足;在线学习目的性较强且行为活动方式简单;社会交互情况不够理想。因此,建议实施在线学习与线下集中研讨相结合的混合式教师培训,培训安排与支持服务、学习内容与活动设计应符合教师在线学习规律,并提供有效的技术脚手架和干预机制,以期提高教师培训效益。     

在线协作学习过程中社会临场感的社会网络分析

已有的研究和实践证明,社会临场感有助于降低学习者在线学习过程中的孤独感、提升学习满意度和促进虚拟学习社区的建立。社会临场感与交互的关系十分密切,以往研究者主要借助内容分析方法或调查问卷来分析两者之间的关系,注重测量个体的意见和主观的感知,但无法反映社会临场感随时间发展变化的动态特征。社会网络分析(SNA)的中心度、密度、中心势、派系等参数能够较为合理地表征在线协作学习中师生的交互过程特征,为研究这一问题提供了新的思路。通过对一门网络课程实施期初、期中和期末三个阶段师生在线论坛中的交互过程与行为进行定量和可视化的社会网络分析,结果显示:学习者在不同学习阶段的社会临场感存在显著差异,交互和社会临场感之间具有十分紧密的联系,个体的社会临场感会随时间的发展而变化。社会网络分析有助于理解在线学习环境中社会临场感的形成和发展变化,有助于教师改进教学,提升网络教学的质量。     

在线学习中的多媒体、社会存在和社区(英文)

在在线学习环境中,社区感、社会存在感是影响学生成功和满意度的重要因素。在线学习领域的研究者和实践者越来越关注多媒体工具、富媒体教学方法对在线课堂中社区感、社会存在感的积极影响的有效性。此外,随着在线学习环境越来越多媒体化,计算机媒介学习环境的内在社会障碍可能会越来越少。因此,本文首先调研了相关的理论框架和概念,包括社会存在理论、计算机媒介交流环境中的社区;然后探讨了特定的多媒体方法对于社区建构、社会存在的有效性。     

Understanding social presence in text‐based online learning environments

This article reports on key aspects of a theory generative study into social presence in text‐based online learning environments. The focus of the article is the nature of social presence as experienced by online learners in those environments. Employing a collective case study design, the study accessed online learners’ experience‐based heuristic knowledge through a multi‐phase dialogical process which functioned as an extended interview. Among the key findings was (a) a definition of social presence drawn from learners’ experiences; (b) explication of the nature of social presence in online learning environments; (c) suggestions for the creation and sustenance of social presence in those environments; and (d) support for a relational view of social presence which emphasizes human agency in mediated social processes and foreshadows a role for social presence as a critical element of online learning environments.     

如何提升在线教学效果?——在线学习满意度影响因素研究

基于社会性和探究社区理论框架,通过多元回归分析、结构方程模型等数据分析方法,本文探索了社会性、临场感与在线学习满意度之间的关系机制。研究发现,在线教学的社会性能够促进学生的教学临场感、社会临场感和认知临场感,而这三大临场感又能够显著提升学生的在线学习满意度;社会性与在线学习满意度之间存在链式中介效应,即社会性能通过促进教学临场感,进而促进学生的社会临场感,而社会临场感又能够促进学生的认知临场感,最终促进学生的在线学习满意度。研究结果有助于理解社会性学习环境对在线教学效果的影响机制,有助于广大教师开展更高质量的在线教学活动。     

Social Presence Online: Networking Learners at a Distance

This paper draws on two studies which researched the use of online small group environments where collaborative learning is a central structure for learning. The establishment of social presence is facilitated through the socio-affective aspect of small group interaction which contributed to the effectiveness of learning online. Social presence, the ability of online learners to project themselves into a textual environment which has few visual or contextual cues, will be explored as an important element in facilitating effective online learning. The teacher's role in helping students project their online social presence and in establishing an environment for learning within the larger group computer conference will also be discussed.     

The effects of digital storytelling on student achievement,social presence,and attitude in online collaborative learning environments

This study investigated the effects of digital storytelling on student achievement, social presence, and attitude in online collaborative learning environments. Students in one middle school course were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups after they received initial general instruction regarding teamwork skills. The “digital storytelling-based online collaborative learning (DST-OCL)” and the “general online collaborative learning (G-OCL)” groups received subsequent associated skills training. The overall results indicated that after each group took part in the treatment during online collaborative learning activities, the “DST-OCL” groups had significantly higher social presence than the “G-OCL” groups. Specifically, using “DST-OCL” strategies was significantly more effective than using “G-OCL” strategies for improving the “online communication,” “interactivity,” and “privacy” components of students’ social presence in online collaborative learning environments. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding student achievement and attitude. The findings of this study offer an insight into methods for using digital storytelling as an instructional strategy for improving online collaborative learning effectiveness.     

The Effects of Prior-knowledge and Online Learning Approaches on Students’ Inquiry and Argumentation Abilities

This study investigated the effects of students’ prior science knowledge and online learning approaches (social and individual) on their learning with regard to three topics: science concepts, inquiry, and argumentation. Two science teachers and 118 students from 4 eighth-grade science classes were invited to participate in this research. Students in each class were divided into three groups according to their level of prior science knowledge; they then took either our social- or individual-based online science learning program. The results show that students in the social online argumentation group performed better in argumentation and online argumentation learning. Qualitative analysis indicated that the students’ social interactions benefited the co-construction of sound arguments and the accurate understanding of science concepts. In constructing arguments, students in the individual online argumentation group were limited to knowledge recall and self-reflection. High prior-knowledge students significantly outperformed low prior-knowledge students in all three aspects of science learning. However, the difference in inquiry and argumentation performance between low and high prior-knowledge students decreased with the progression of online learning topics.     

网络学习共同体的构建与培育

网络学习共同体将网络空间变为一个开放的、多元的社会活动文化场域,是由对共同主题感兴趣的一群人聚集在一起,通过团体成员之间的对话、协商或辩论、争执等社会性活动进行知识建构的过程。它不仅具有网络学习的特征,而且具有社会性学习特征。因此,采取营造特定文化氛围、构建社会性交流场、培育社团领导意识等策略,有助于网络学习共同体的构建与培育。     

Online Education from the Perspective of Community College Students within the Community of Inquiry Paradigm

This article describes a qualitative inquiry that explored the phenomenon of online learning on a community college campus within the paradigm of Community of Inquiry (CoI). The learning experience of 15 community college students taking fully online courses was examined in-depth for evidence of social, cognitive, and instructional domains identified by CoI as critical components for the facilitation of a meaningful learning experience in computer-mediated environments. Findings conveyed suppressed social, cognitive, and teaching presence; and as a result, a meaningful learning experience was not achieved for the participants. Additionally, first-time online learners manifested a unique learning experience that warrants further investigation. Findings from this study raise questions about the pedagogical soundness of fully online courses for community college students. Future research should examine online learning as a distinct pedagogy and focus more intently on the teaching and learning process.     

“微博点名”促进在线学习交互研究

随着信息技术的发展,在线学习因其灵活、便捷等特点成为信息时代的一种重要学习手段。促进学习者实现较高水平的交互是提高在线学习质量的关键之一。然而现实的在线学习（尤其是异步交互的在线学习）交互效果并不理想。各类在线学习中的观望者和逃避者较少或根本不参加在线学习,教学交互的实现水平也显著低于积极参与者。通过社会网络分析法对一个基于微博的在线学习社区中社会性交互进行分析发现,“微博点名”活动能够显著促进在线学习交互,尤其是学习者之间的交互。“微博点名”活动的规则、微博交流方便快捷的特点,以及活动本身的趣味性是促进在线学习交互的原因。“微博点名”适合设计类和创作型学习实践活动。开展“微博点名”和基于微博的在线学习活动时,教师应营造良好的在线学习环境,发挥核心学习者的作用,引导边缘学习者积极参与,促进学习团体的形成和建设,同时应注意引导学生反思,提高交互质量。     

A model for social presence in online classrooms

It is now possible to create flexible learning environments without time and distance barriers on the internet. However, research has shown that learners typically experience isolation and alienation in online learning environments. These negative experiences can be reduced by enhancing social presence. In order to better facilitate the perceived social presence in online classrooms, this study presents a framework developed from the social cognitive theory for investigating social presence and its relationships with relevant factors. An instrument with sufficient reliability and validity was developed to measure these factors. A formal questionnaire-based survey was carried out among learners with previous learning experiences in online learning environments. A total of 522 valid samples were collected from three schools and analyzed using structural equation modeling to examine the proposed framework and hypotheses. The results show that user interface and social cues have significant effects on social presence. User interface also has significant effects on social cues. Moreover, this study evidenced that social presence has significant effects on learning interaction which in turn has significant effects on learning performance. Finally, implications of the findings were discussed for further research directions and practical applications.     

Building Active Online Interaction via a Collaborative Learning Community

Abstract

Online interaction creates a desirable learning situation. Transferring traditional instruction to an online environment usually does not generate effective interaction for learning. This paper discusses theories and practices for an interactive collaborative learning community in an online environment. Three theoretical constructs-interactivity, social context, and technologiesare discussed to provide a theoretical foundation. Effective online interactive strategies and activities, communications, online discussions, technology selections, peer evaluations, team moderations, team projects/presentations, and online learning specialists are recommended to maximize online learning interaction.     

Fostering online learning at the workplace: A scheme to identify and analyse collaboration processes in asynchronous discussions

Research has shown that providing participants with high-quality learning material is not sufficient to help them profit most from online education. The level of interaction among participants is another key determinant for learning outcomes. However, merely proposing interaction does not automatically lead to fruitful discussion and collaboration. Specifically, social presence and facilitation activities add value to online discussions. In Murphy's collaboration framework, social presence represents the basis of successful online collaboration from which more reflective discussions and co-construction can evolve. In this paper, an adjusted version of this framework was applied in a workplace learning context. The content analysis of 1170 comments in an online course for careers practitioners of a public employment service showed that the extended framework generated deeper insights into the dynamics of online discussions. The results show that involvement in collaborative learning at the workplace was supported by a high social presence and influenced by course topic and tasks. Facilitation played an important role in creating a sympathetic sense of community and stimulating co-creation processes.