role of the online tutor in establishing social presence
TRANSCRIPT
Role of the online tutor in establishing social presence in
asynchronous text-based collaborative learning environments
Aleksandra Lazareva PhD Research Fellow
Online tutoring
Not teaching but guiding
Multiple classifications of roles
• Pedagogical, managerial, technical, social
• Student perceptions
Explorative
Context
Online collaborative learning course (2 semesters)
• Main platform: learning management system (LMS)
• Asynchronous text-based
Participants – 31 (30)
• Origin – Europe/ Africa/ Asia
• Different levels of experience, background, age
F2f intro sessions locally in Europe and Africa
6(5) multicultural groups
Data collection
Observations
Surveys
• Feedback
• Social presence
Followup interviews
What’s social presence?
Connection vs. isolation
Representation of oneself as an individual
Meaningful collaborative knowledge construction
Collaborative community vs. exchange of information
What affects it?
Communication medium
Communication context
• Emotional expression
• Open communication
• Group cohesion
Lack of synchronicity
Online tutor
Asynchronous communication
No interruptions/ judgments
Directly relating to other participants’ contributions
– explicit acknowledgement
On-task
Based on expectations – «violated» flow of
interactions, delayed feedback
Multiple threads active at the same time
Discussions on the LMS
Text misinterpretation
• Lack of synchronicity
• Alternative communication channels
• Informal groups
Scattered contributions
• Unrelated to peer participants
Absent students
Communication context
Free sharing of opinions
• Encouragement from the rest
Mutual acknowledgement
• Inclusion of contributions in the final deliverable
Shared values
• Group contract
Social identity
• Personal introductions
• Impersonal environment
• On-task
Implications for the tutor
Group contract awareness
Open mind
Equality of contributions & mutual acknowledgement
Combine with alternative communication media
coordination & off-task communication
Combine with synchronous meetings
• Initial personal introductions
• Througout the process shared understanding
