The document discusses social presence in online learning. It defines social presence as the degree to which communication participants feel socially and emotionally connected. Early research viewed computer-mediated communication as impersonal, but later studies found social presence improves student satisfaction, community, and perceived learning. The document outlines strategies to build social presence, such as using introductions, group work, and sharing personal stories. It concludes by discussing the researcher's current studies on social presence indicators and differences across online courses.

1. Social Presence What is it? And Why Does it Matter? Patrick R. Lowenthal | patrick.lowenthal@ucdenver.edu

3. What is it?

4. Does Presence = present ? ? ? ?

8. Original Definition Social presence is the degree of salience (i.e., quality or state of being there ) between two communicators using a communication medium.

10. For Example

13. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfuS3m-Jhcc

14. Why does this matter ?

15. Our lives have Changed

16. We are social beings!

17. Learning is social !

19. If learning is social and CMC antisocial, where does leave us?

21. Phases of Social Presence Research

23. Why does this matter to me ?

24. Limitations of Past Research

32. Category & Indicators Definition of Indicators Examples Affective Responses Paralanguage Features of text outside formal syntax used to convey emotion (i.e., emoticons, exaggerated punctuation or spelling) Someday……; How awful for you  ; Mathcad is definitely NOT stand along software; Absolutely!!!!! Emotion Use of descriptive words that indicate feelings (i.e., love, sad, hate, silly) When I make a spelling mistake, I look and feel stupid; I get chills when I think of … Value Expressing personal values, beliefs, and attitudes I think it is a necessary evil; I feel our children have the same rights Humor Use of humour—teasing cajoling, irony, sarcasm, understatement God forbid leaving your house to go to the library Self-Disclosure Sharing personal information, expressing vulnerability I sound like an old lady; I am a closet writer; We had a similar problem Interactive Responses Acknowledgement Referring directly to the contents of others’ messages; quoting from others’ messages agreement Those ‘old machines’ sure were something; we won by a landslide – ‘landslide’ (next response) Disagreement Expressing agreement or disagreement with other’s messages I’m with you on that; I agree; I think what you are saying is right Approval Expressing approval, offering praise, encouragement You make a good point; Right on; Good luck as you continue to learn Invitation Asking questions or otherwise inviting response Any suggestions?; Would you describe that for me, I am unfamiliar with the term Personal Advice Offering specific advice to classmates Also the CEC website might have some references Cohesive Responses Greetings & Salutations Greetings, closures Hi Mary; That’s it for now, Tom Vocatives Addressing classmates by name You know, Tamara, …; I totally agree with you Katherine Group Reference Referring to the group as ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’ We need to be educated; Our use of the Internet may not be free Social Sharing Sharing information unrelated to the course Happy Birthday!! to both of you!!! Self-reflection Reflection on the course itself, a kind of self-awareness of the group I would never have imagined that we could have been having a discussion like this when we first started this course

33. Strategies to Improve Social Presence

35. Can you think of any strategies?

37. Questions?