Online social presence and its correlation with learning
by Paul Kawachi
International Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments (IJSMILE), Vol. 1, No. 1, 2013

Abstract: Social media operate through telepresence and so-called online social presence. This paper explores how well online social presence is indeed correlated with achieved quality of academic learning. The key issue lies in appropriately defining the concept of social presence. The term social presence is overused in the literature where now two dozen expressions involve the term presence. Various models for online education have been proposed. The most promising is the transactional distance model that reflects the linear narrative process of learning. This is based on well-established theories including the theory of transactional distance, conversation theory, and the current leading paradigm of constructionism. In this model, social presence is seen as important in the early stage carrying the student from being an outsider to becoming an insider in the online community. Social presence can be measured, and is re-defined as involving a mix of teacher presence (not teaching presence), learner presence, and some cognitive presence. The essential roles of social media and social presence are reported, and after exploring the correlation with achieved learning, some implications are suggested for online tutors and students.

Online publication date: Fri, 28-Feb-2014

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments (IJSMILE):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com