Cognitive and social help giving in online teaching: an exploratory study |
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Authors: | Joan L Whipp and R A Lorentz |
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Institution: | (1) Marquette University, P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, USA |
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Abstract: | While literature suggests that college students may be less reluctant to seek help in online rather than traditional courses,
little is known about how online instructors give help in ways that lead to increased student help seeking and academic success.
In this study, we used theories and research on learning assistance and scaffolding, teacher immediacy, social presence, and
academic help seeking to explore through a cross-case study design how three online instructors differed in their use of cognitive
and social supports and how those differences related to student perceptions of support, help seeking, and performance. Primary
data sources included all course postings by the instructors, interviews with the instructors, observational field notes on
course discussions, student interviews, and final student grades. Archived course documents and student discussion postings
were secondary data sources. Data analysis revealed that while all instructors provided cognitive and social support, they
varied in their level of questioning, use of direct instruction, support for task structuring, and attention to group dynamics.
This variation in teaching presence related to differences across the courses in student perceptions of support, student help
seeking in course discussions, and final course grades. Implications for online teaching and suggestions for further research
are offered.
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Keywords: | Online teaching Instructional scaffolding Cognitive learning support Social learning support Teaching presence Social presence Academic help seeking |
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