This document discusses how mobile apps can foster social presence in online classrooms. It notes that there are now over 5 billion cell phones and 1 billion internet-capable mobile devices in the world. While early research focused on traditional online environments, little research has examined the impact of increased mobile technology use. The document argues that mobile technology allows for greater communication and connectivity between online learners than previous generations experienced. It maintains that mobile apps have the potential to enhance students' social presence in online courses if carefully integrated and administered.

1. Using Mobile Apps to Foster
Social Presence in the Online
Classroom
George Engel
Keith Pratt, PhD
Rena Palloff, PhD

3. • 5 billion cell phones in world
• 1 billion internet capable mobile devices
• Online Enrollments include mobile device
users
• What is the impact of mobile tech on the
online learning environment?

4. • “The degree of salience between two communicators”
(Short & Christie, 1976).
• “the person we become when we are
online and how we express that person
in virtual space (Palloff and Pratt, 2007).
Multiple definitions:

5. • Early research began on study of communication medium
• Much modern research centers on the
online environment
• Little research, at this time, on mobile the
mobile environment

6. • Students can participate in coursework without using a desktop
• Mobile tech allows communication to go beyond simple voice
or text based
• Mobile tech is a tether that binds a new
generation of learners together with a
connectedness not possible in previous
generations

7. Mobile technology, with its ultimate connective/communicative
capability, has the potential to enhance the “realness” of
a person’s presence in an online classroom.

8. Social Networks
Social networks are a two edged sword:
• They foster online presence
and build connections
• They can destroy social presence and isolate
an individual from the group
Use of networks within a classroom environment
must be carefully administrated.

9. Cel.li
Podio
Evernote
Yammer
Join.me
DropBox
Google apps
MS 360

11. • Polleverywhere.com
• Flikr.com
• Orchestra-to-do
• 37 signals campfire
• Flow
• Phuser
• Self-destructable text notes