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Social Presence

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Social Presence is the purposeful building of a supportive learning community, providing a venue for communication within a trusted environment where students can express individual identities and establish social relationships (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2000). Perceived trust, as the foundation for increased success online, is a key goal to attain when constructing a community of inquiry.

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Social Presence requires a welcoming setting that establishes trust. This perceived trust then purposefully develops a learning environment that supports risk-free expression, freedom to question, collaboration, dialogue, critical thought, and increased feelings of success support.

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Instructors who are established experts in creating presence also report having increased satisfaction while teaching online (Rebeor, et al., 2019).

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Applications, encouraging students to engage with the instructor, content, and each other, by the instructor is an important element of social presence. Interacting in a way that presents the instructor as a "real" person, who cares, and can support the students' knowledge development, increases a sense of belonging (Gunawardena & Zittle, 1997; Hart, 2012, p.1), which is suggested to reduce feelings of isolation (Galusha, 1997; Hara & Khling, 1999), and increase retention and success (Rebeor, Rosser-Majors, McMahon, Anderson, Sliwinski, Harper, 2019). 

Strategy Examples

Audio or video feedback:

Audio or video announcements, guidance, and helpful hints:

Use of appropriate humor:

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Encouraging Images and quotes:

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Rubin, L. (2017). Rubes Cartoon: Department of Psychology. User Experience Magazine, 17(1).Retrieved from http://uxpamagazine.org/rubes-cartoon-department-of-psychology/

Self-disclosure:

​Concerned about using your own picture as well? Here are additional options. Numerous online sites can support you in doing this.

Self-awareness of tone in email communications and feedback:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/threat-management/201311/dont-type-me-email-and-emotions

https://elementthree.com/blog/the-dos-donts-of-email-communication/

 

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Participation in professional social sites so students can see you as a real person with expertise:

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Emotional Expression:

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Meet with students virtually when needed or appropriate:

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Not sure how to develop some of these strategies?

 

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Also check out Dr. Peter Trzop: Education Channel. Dr. Trzop gives great instruction about using videos in the classroom.

Example of his lessons on YouTube:

Have questions about social presence and how to apply in your online classroom? Leave us a blog comment.

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