The document discusses the Community of Inquiry framework for fostering an engaged online learning environment, highlighting the roles of social, cognitive, and teaching presence. It presents design questions and assessment sample questions aimed at enhancing participant interaction, learning ownership, and instructor support. Resources for further exploration of the Community of Inquiry are also provided.

1. The Community of Inquiry
Building an engaged presence for
learning in the online classroom
Dr. Debra Beck
University of
Wyoming
debbeck@uwyo.edu
e-Volution 2014
Laramie (and beyond!)

2. The Community of Inquiry
https://coi.athabascau.ca

3. Some C of I Background

4. Social Presence
• Supportive
communication
• Sense of safety
• Group cohesion
• Learning ownership
“A sense of community
based upon common
purpose & inquiry”

5. SP: Some Design Questions
• Do students know what to
expect re: communication?
• What vehicles will they use –
and are they friendly tools?
• Are students welcomed?
• How will you introduce
yourself to them?
• How will you create and
reinforce a sense of safety?

6. SP: Assessment Sample Qs
• “Getting to know other course
participants gave me a sense of
belonging.”
• “I felt comfortable participating in
course discussions.”
• “I felt my point of view was
acknowledged by other course
participants.”
• “Online discussions helped me to
develop a sense of collaboration.”

7. Cognitive Presence
• Exploration
• Construction
• Resolution
• Confirmed
understanding via
collaboration &
reflection
“Cycle of practical
inquiry”

8. CP: Some Design Questions
• What are students expected to
know by course end?
• What skills, processes will they
need to use, know?
• How will learning objectives
inform course content and
design?
• How are students encouraged
to reflect on, process info?
• How will students respond?

9. CP: Assessment Sample Qs
• “Problems posed increased my
interest in course issues.”
• “Course activities piqued my
curiosity.”
• “I utilized a variety of information
sources to explore problems posed
in the course.”
• “Learning activities helped me
construct explanations/solutions.”
• “I can describe ways to test & apply
knowledge created in the course.”

10. Teaching Presence
• Design
• Facilitation
• Direct instruction
“Interaction & discourse
play a key role in higher-order
learning but not
without structure (design)
and leadership (facilitation
& direction)”

11. TP: Some Design Questions
• What learning assessment
strategies will you use?
• How do those strategies connect
to course objectives, outcomes?
• Do you include rubric(s) that
connect to outcomes?
• Do you have policies re conduct?
• Have you built in reflection
opportunities?
• ARE YOU PRESENT??? In what
ways?

12. TP: Assessment Sample Qs
• “The instructor clearly
communicated important course
goals.”
• “The instructor was helpful in
guiding the class towards
understanding course topics to help
me clarify my thinking.”
• “The instructor helped to focus
discussion on relevant issues in a
way that helped me to learn.”
• “The instructor provided feedback in
a timely fashion.”

13. C of I Resource - Researchers
https://coi.athabascau.ca

14. C of I Resource - Pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/npmaven/

15. C of I Resource - Diigo