Session 4 - Social presence and online learning

I have just read an interesting paper presented by Steve Wheeler from the
University of Plymouth. The paper was presented at the TAFE Conference, Queensland, 11 November, 2005. You can read the full paper here.

His research indicates 'that social presence is an important feature of any
successful learning activity, particularly within digital learning environments'.

He offers the following recommendations

1. Tutors should respond as quickly as possible to questions from remote learners.

2. Students need a place to mix socially and this kind of facility should be built into any managed learning environment.

3. Tutors should acknowledge the differences in study approaches and try to cater for as many of these as possible within the design of the coursework.

4. Students should be actively encouraged to participate in regular discussion group postings

5. Without a clear perception of connection through social presence, students may lose motivation, do badly in their studies or even drop out all together.

He stresses that it is important for students to be convinced that they "are not interacting with a machine - instead they are interacting with their peers through a machine".

One idea he uses in his own teaching is a "Just 4 Fun" discussion area where students are "invited to let off steam by posting humorous messages, in the form of online 'graffiti'".

Do you think that a "graffiti board" in a discussion area would enhance your learning in an online environment?