Social Presence in Synchronous E-Learning
For Week 2 of IPT 511, we explored four main features of synchronous e-learning:
- Communication Modes
- Rehearsal/Response Options
- Instructor Pacing
- Social Presence
The class was split up into groups and each was assigned a feature to explore and research. Our goal was to find what research is out there and published on these features and share our findings with the class.
I was actually pleased to be assigned to the subject of Social Presence in synchronous e-learning. One of my goals since starting the WELPS certificate program was to find ways to bring social media into e-learning and the workplace. Conducting some research this week led me to some recent papers on the use of social media in the classroom. I read about three papers and a couple articles on the subject. Out of these papers and articles, I found a few that speak well to the subject at hand.
First thing’s first: let’s define Social Presence in learning. Out of all my research, pretty much all of them agree that Social Presence is…
Tools, systems, structure and functionality that supports social interaction between people and group members.
All of the articles I found agree too that when Social Presence is reduced, communication decreases leaving people and group members feeling disconnected.
The Papers
Key points:
- Using social media tools like Twitter and Facebook to create or augment social presence in e-learning places the responsibility on the students to participate and make the necessary connections with others. However, guidance by the instructor must be given to ensure that social media is being used as an educational tool and not a message board or photo sharing site.
- Since most incoming students to college courses and people in younger generations are already engaged in these spaces, instructors should make a concerted effort to engage with their students.
Students participating in online courses often have a sense of isolation, impacting their success. Therefore, participation in social media spaces with fellow students builds a sense of community they may not receive in the virtual classroom.
Tweeting the Night Away: Using Twitter to Enhance Social Presence
Key points:
- Although learning management systems (LMS) and virtual classrooms offer a wide variety of tools for social interaction and social presence, some lack the ability to offer just-in-time social interactions and connections. Twitter can offer free-flowing, just-in-time interaction.
- Learning can take place outside the context of the classroom environment. Twitter enables users to connect with their fellow students without being tied to the LMS or virtual classroom.
- The nature of Twitter enhances the student to write concisely due to character restrictions (140 characters), target specific audiences and maintains and ongoing relationship after the class complete.
- Instructors should provide clear guidelines for use to support learning and interaction with fellow students.
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As you can see, if the synchronous e-learning platform you use does not afford social presence, there are ways around it by utilizing third-party applications. In order for it to be effective, some guidance should be provided for it’s usage. However, too much guidance will stifle social presence which should develop organically among the learners.
In: IPT 511 - Synchronous E-Learning in the Workplace, WELPS · Tagged with: e-learning, facebook, social media, social presence, synchronous, twitter
Learning Styles in Synchronous E-Learning
We’ve completed the first full week of IPT 511 where we primarily focused on the first two chapters of our text, The New Virtual Classroom, in our class discussion forum. According to the authors Clark and Kwinn, results from media comparison research are rather consistent and the potential for someone to learn is more or less equivalent regardless of which form of media is chosen for instruction.
What does that mean?
The common myth is that something more visual, like a video, is better than text or spoken word for example. The truth is, it is not the delivery mechanism or media that is chosen for instruction that facilitates learning, it is the components that make up the instruction that enables the learner to gain new knowledge or change their behavior (whichever the primary performance objective is).
Those “components” and their examples are:
- Communication mode – text, audio, graphics
- Instructional methods – definitions, examples, demos, practice
- Instructional architecture – receptive, directive, guided discovery, exploratory
Out of these components, I wonder how a learner’s learning style comes into play? According to the authors, the media doesn’t matter. It’s the components employed that are important as to whether or not the learner gains new knowledge or changes their behavior. Certainly, some media is going to work better than others at delivering a message based on learning style.
Perhaps I’m falling into the very myth I’m trying to debunk here. One thing I didn’t notice in the text was discussion of some upfront audience analysis that should be done before pulling instructional components together to create synchronous e-learning. It wasn’t covered in the first two chapters of the text. Maybe it was only assumed this would be done before any instructional components were pulled together.
In: IPT 511 - Synchronous E-Learning in the Workplace, WELPS · Tagged with: e-learning, learning styles, multimedia, synchronous
Up Next, IPT 511 – Synchronous E-Learning in the Workplace
It’s been many months since I have updated this blog that covers my journey to complete the requirements for the IPT WELPS Certificate.
Due to course scheduling, I wasn’t able to register for a course during the Fall ‘09 semester because, well… there wasn’t one scheduled that I wanted to take. In fact, had I went with my original plan of selected courses, I wouldn’t have been able to take the courses I wanted to until the start of the upcoming Fall ‘10 semester or following Spring ‘11 semester (I think). Either way, it would have had to sit out for quite a while in order to take the courses I wanted to and receive my certificate in a timely manner.
Unfortunately, I had to compromise somewhat. Please don’t misconstrue me. Every course that is part of the WELPS Certificate are worth their weight in gold. However, I have a feeling that IPT 511 – Synchronous E-Learning in the Workplace, where GoToMeeting will be the preferred application for the course, will be a cake walk.
For the last two years in my professional career, practically all of the training I delivered was synchronous over virtual classrooms. If the course description is correct…
Students will examine principles and techniques for developing and implementing synchronous web-based learning strategies to improve performance in the workplace.
… this is going to easy.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure I’ll learn something new. I always seem to in these courses which has made the experience thus far very worthwhile.
In: IPT 511 - Synchronous E-Learning in the Workplace, WELPS · Tagged with: e-learning, synchronous
5 Ways to Jump Into Rapid E-learning
Looking back at the first course I took this year, IPT 525 – E-Learning Principles & Practices, we had the opportunity to explore some applications used in authoring e-learning courses and the idea of Rapid E-Learning.
Articulate is a software company that produces e-learning authorware to create your own media-rich, interactive e-learning courses. The term Rapid E-learning is used quite often throughout their website and supporting Rapid E-Learning Blog written and managed by Tom Kuhlmann.
Here are 5 of my favorite posts at the Rapid E-Learning Blog that I think will help explain Rapid E-learning and show how you may take advantage of this development methodology within the e-learning space.
- 5 Simple Ways to Get Started with E-Learning Development
- 9 Free Tools That Help Me Build Better E-Learning
- How to Add Scenarios to Your Rapid E-Learning Courses…Rapidly!
- 7 Tips for Better E-Learning Scenarios
- 5 Secret Tips from an E-Learning Pioneer
BONUS: Don’t let the term “Rapid E-learning” fool you. While it is possible to build quality e-learning quickly, Jon Lloyd at VMG doesn’t believe so. He outlines why in his post, There’s nothing rapid about Rapid eLearning.
I happen to believe it is possible to create quality courses quickly, however the expectations between the developer and the client should be measured and within reason. Developing e-learning is a craft and you can’t rush the creation of a quality learning experience at the expense of the learner’s needs. Remember, that is where it should all begin and end.
Further Reading
For more on e-learning, visit the following posts:
In: IPT 525 - E-Learning Principles & Practices · Tagged with: e-learning
5 Things You Should Consider Before Taking Online College Courses
For the last few months I have been on hiatus from pursuing my certificate in Workplace E-Learning and Performance Support (WELPS) from the IPT Department at Boise State. It wasn’t by choice that I am sitting on the sidelines. It is largely due to class scheduling. The courses I wanted to take were not being taught this semester, so I’m sitting back and enjoying the time off before I resume in January.
The break has given me time to reflect on my experience and one of the things that came to mind was the differences between traditional classroom instruction and online instruction. The WELPS certificate is taught entirely online (obviously). For some people, taking online courses is easy, more manageable and flexible versus traditional classroom instruction where you have to commit to scheduled dates and time when class takes place.
If you are planning to take online college courses, here are 5 things you should consider before you commit:
- Do you prefer a structured environment for learning? Online learning is independent of time and place. The class takes place on a consistent basis (online) where discussions with the instructor and student are almost continuous.
- Do you need to have face to face interaction with others? In online learning there is a delay in discussions because the conversation is asynchronous – whereas you if you make a comment or ask a question, you’ll have to wait for a response. Feedback is not immediate.
- Do you do well with written instruction? Visual learners often prefer to witness a demonstration of the task they are being asked to perform. The online environment sometimes does not lend itself to being a good arena for demonstration, so learners need to rely on written instruction and create their own mental model to act upon.
- Do you communicate well through your writing? If you are a good writer and can clearly illustrate you thoughts or ideas through the written word, you can succeed in an online learning environment.
- Are you engaging? Participation in online courses is measured by your willingness to engage others and to start discussions. If you are the inquisitive type, you’ll find online courses easy.
This post is certainly not meant to scare you off from taking online college classes. It’s an entirely different ballgame from traditional learning so all things should be considered. If you’ve taken online courses, what has been your experience? Are there considerations I did not mention? I look forward to your insights into online college courses.
In: Miscellaneous, WELPS