aera 2010 - investigating twitter and social presence

Investigating Twitter’s ability to enhance

social presence

Patrick Lowenthal | patrick.lowenthal@ucdenver.edu | Twitter: @plowenthal

Joni Dunlap | joni.dunlap@ucdenver.edu | Twitter: @jonidunlap

Research questions

• What are student's perceptions of using Twitter in an online course? [Quantitative + Qualitative]

• What are the different perceptions of social presence between students who use Twitter and those who don't? [Quantitative + Qualitative]

Phase 1 results

“Twitter has been a great way for me to check in with everyone who is using it. I found out how other’s were feeling about school, how life was treating them, how their jobs and families were doing. This is something much more intimate than mandatory weekly discussions...”

Phase 1 results

Phase 2 results

Phase 2 results

Connected to instructor

General “How-to” Screencasts M=3.73

One-on-one emails M=3.67

Trouble Shooting “How-to” Videos

M=3.55

Detailed Written Feedback M=3.5

Instructor Bios M=3.47

Top 5 Activities

Connected to instructor

Twitter M=1.79

Top 100 List of Design Guidelines M=1.89

Just ask Zoltar M=2.00

Superhero Powers M=2.13

Course Overview Video M=2.14

Bottom 5 Activities

Connected to peers

Digital storytelling M=3.31

One-on-one emails M=3.14

Previous relationship w/ peers M=3.07Access to peers projects M=3.07

Virtual Paper Bag: Flickr Photo Story

M=2.88

Top 5 Activities

Connected to peers

Twitter M=1.54

Just ask Zoltar M=1.89

Top 100 List of Design Guidelines M=2.00

Superhero Powers M=2.11

Instructor’s Feedback on Other’s work

M=2.25

Bottom 5 Activities

Connected to instructor

What was the least effective at helping you feel connected to your instructor?

•The Twitter activity was least effective I thought. I don't see how knowing what my instructor or other classmates are doing with their leisure time helps me learn.•Twitter since I had never used Twitter and I believe it is limiting to the number of characters•I hate twitter.

Connected to instructor

What was the least effective at helping you feel connected to your instructor?

•The Twitter activity was least effective I thought. I don't see how knowing what my instructor or other classmates are doing with their leisure time helps me learn.•Twitter since I had never used Twitter and I believe it is limiting to the number of characters•I hate twitter.

Connected to instructor

What was the least effective at helping you feel connected to your instructor?

•The Twitter activity was least effective I thought. I don't see how knowing what my instructor or other classmates are doing with their leisure time helps me learn.•Twitter since I had never used Twitter and I believe it is limiting to the number of characters•I hate twitter.

Connected to peers

What was the least effective at helping you feel connected to your peers?

• Twitter, don't get it or understand why to keep people up to date when I am working…• The Twitter …I think it is good to know who your classmates are but to know what they are doing every minute is not interesting to me. • I don't use or get twitter at all. I think its lame.

Connected to peers

What was the least effective at helping you feel connected to your peers?

• Twitter, don't get it or understand why to keep people up to date when I am working…• The Twitter …I think it is good to know who your classmates are but to know what they are doing every minute is not interesting to me. • I don't use or get twitter at all. I think its lame.

Connected to peers

What was the least effective at helping you feel connected to your peers?

• Twitter, don't get it or understand why to keep people up to date when I am working…• The Twitter …I think it is good to know who your classmates are but to know what they are doing every minute is not interesting to me. • I don't use or get twitter at all. I think its lame.

• Complete interviews in May & June 2010• Four students with high SP scores, four students

with low SP scores• Sample questions:– 3. In an online course, how important do you think

feeling connected to your instructor is as well as getting a sense that your instructor is "there" and "real"? Why? What types of technologies and learning activities help?

– 4. In an online course, how important do you think feeling connected to your peers is as well as getting a sense that they are "there" and "real"? Why? What types of technologies and learning activities help?

Phase 3 plan

Discussion

• Preliminary results are different for Phase Two than Phase One

• Need to spend more time helping students “Get it”

• Must recognize it might not be a good “fit” for all

• People form strong feelings about Twitter before ever using it

• Low tech solutions might be a better alternative

Conclusion

• More data needed• Where to invest time and energy• Variety is the spice of life

Follow us on Twitter

Joni Dunlap | Twitter: @jonidunlap

Patrick Lowenthal | Twitter: @plowenthal

Paper & Presentation available | www.slideshare.net/plowenthal/documents