Creating a Framework of Social Presence in a Distance Education Environment

Research has shown that a sense of community impacts the extent to which an individual connects to concepts within a learning environment (Tu, 2000). This feeling of connectedness is known as “social presence” and comes naturally during face-to-face interactions in a brick-and-mortar classroom. In an online classroom environment where the physical gathering of learners is missing, it is the instructor’s role to create an environment that cultivates social presence via the instructional design, implementation, and evaluation process (Rhodes & Schmidt, 2021).

This presentation will discuss how online instructors can successfully facilitate social presence with high-tech and low-tech methods while being inclusive of multiple abilities and learning styles. Additionally, best practices and the use of tools such as Nearpod, which takes “previously created material such as Microsoft PowerPoint presentations or Google Slides and turn[s] them into interactive learning lessons” (Buttrey, 2021, p. 3), will be explored.

References
Buttrey, K. (2021). Inclusion, Engagement, and Nearpod: Providing a Digital Alternative to Traditional Instruction. Kentucky Teacher Education Journal, 8(1), 1-12. https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/ktej/vol8/iss1/2/

Rhodes, C. M., & Schmidt, S. W. (2021). Being “present” in the online learning space. New Directions for Adult & Continuing Education, 2021(169), 81–88. https://doi.org/10.1002/ace.20416

Tu, C., 2000. On-line learning migration: from social learning theory to social presence theory in a CMC environment. Journal of network and computer applications, 23 (1), 27–37.

Marsha Morgenstern
University of Phoenix
Bethel Park, PA, USA

Marsha Morgenstern facilitates courses online for University of Phoenix and Pittsburgh Technical College. In addition to 15 years of experience in online higher education, Morgenstern holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training.

Jason Margolis
St. Bonaventure University

Dr. Jason Margolis is a Professor of Education at St. Bonaventure University, where he leads a new on-line EdD Educational Leadership program. A former New York City high school English teacher, Dr. Margolis has worked for 20 years in higher education on issues connected with the educational change process, teacher professional development and leadership, as well as 3rd space-oriented teaching and learning for students.

Michele Napierkowski
Community College of Allegheny County
Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Michele Napierkowski has a Master's degree in Early Intervention from the University of Pittsburgh. Before becoming an assistant professor of Early Education and Child Development at the Community College of Allegheny County, Michele worked as an early intervention provider in Allegheny and Washington County's Birth to 3 program. Michele also worked as Infant Mental Health Specialist and parent mentor for NurturePA. Michele lives in the south hills of Pittsburgh with her husband, three children, and a handful of reptiles.

Creating a Framework of Social Presence in a Distance Education Environment

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