In today's digital age, online teaching and learning have become indispensable tools for educators and learners alike. The ability to connect, collaborate, and engage with students from anywhere in the world has opened limitless possibilities for personal and professional growth.
At SCOC Consulting, we understand the challenges that come with transitioning to online teaching and learning. Drawing from our expertise in adult education and distance teaching, we have compiled a list of tips and resources to help you navigate this exciting journey and unlock the full potential of the digital classroom.
Understand the Role Presence in the Online Environment
As instructors and designers in the field of online education, we cannot overestimate the importance of creating a sense of presence in online teaching and learning. Creating a strong online presence is vital for establishing credibility and attracting students. Start by understanding why the sense of “being there” and “being together” is so important to online presence. To create presence in the online environment, we need to think, feel, and behave differently than we do in the face-to-face environment because we have to make an effort to be aware of the intentions of others and their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors when they are connected to us via technology. When we become aware of and understand the differences between in-person and online interactions, we are better able to select appropriate technology and design learning environments that help create a sense of presence.
Identify Ways in Which Presence Can Be Experienced
There are different ways in which the feeling of presence can be created through types of experience, modes of presence, and learner dimensions. These ways of creating presence are important because they address abstract concepts in a concrete way. In their book, Lehman and Conceição (2010) describe four types of experience related to creating a sense of presence: subjective, objective, social, and environmental. They also describe four modes in which we experience presence online: realism, immersion, involvement, and suspension of disbelief. More importantly, it is to understand the three learner dimensions: the interior world, the interface with the real world (perception/ conception process), and the concrete world we share with others. Lehman and Conceição explain the details of the presence model in their book.
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| Being There for the Online Learner Model |
Design the Online Course with a Sense of Presence
Developing an online course with a sense of presence is an effective way to provide personalized guidance and support to your students. It requires understanding the multifaceted concept of presence. Begin by identifying the determinants of presence, the components of the design process that guide the creation of a sense of presence in the online environment. These components are the type and focus of the content, the format of the learning experience, the interactive strategies implemented, the role played by the instructor, the type of technology used in the course, and the kinds of support provided. Lehman and Conceição offer a design framework that uses the Being There for the Online Learner model as a foundation for understanding presence and the determinants of presence as the design components for creating a sense of presence in the online environment.
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| Framework for Designing Online Courses with a Sense of Presence |
Consider Activities That Create a Sense of Presence in Your Online Course
Establishing a sense of presence in an online course starts before the course starts by using pre-course activities to set the tone for the entire online course. For example, send a welcome letter to your learners providing information about the course and inviting them to participate in the course orientation. Also, engaging learners in opportunities to navigate the course while incorporating tips for being successful in the online environment and creating discussion forums where learners can connect with each other can set a stimulating and exciting tone that will foster enthusiasm for the course.
To maintain a sense of presence during the online course, you will want to intentionally involve learners in interactive activities with you and with other learners. If the format of the learning experience is self-paced, the interactive activities should focus on one-on-one with your learners. A variety of activities can be incorporated into this sequence of the course: instructor-led activities, logistical and instructional activities, cooperative activities, and collaborative activities.
To maintain the flow of the online course and help learners complete their final tasks, give special attention to the communication between you and them, create an environment for group or team feedback, design constructive feedback on assignment performance and provide a venue for course closure.
Embarking on the journey of online teaching and learning requires dedication, adaptability, and a willingness to continuously learn and grow. By implementing the tips and strategies outlined in this article, you can set yourself up for success in the digital classroom.
