The Impact of Multimodal Communication on Learners' Experience in a Synchronous Online Environment

• In Event: AERA Virtual Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: Looking at Online Learning From Various Perspectives, Methodologies, and Contexts

Abstract

Synchronous online learning has grown speedily during the COVID-19 pandemic since early 2020. This ongoing mixed-method study examines how the multiple modes available in synchronous online contexts impact learners’ communication and learning experience. The preliminary results show that multimodality, social presence, teaching presence, and satisfaction are significantly positively correlated. Additionally, this study has found statistically significant indirect effects of multimodality on students’ satisfaction with synchronous online teaching via social and teaching presence. This study’s initial findings confirm the importance of social presence and teaching presence in synchronous online learning, and their roles as mediators impact students’ satisfaction. Qualitative data will be collected in interviews to further analyze how multimodality affects social presence and teaching presence.

Authors

• Ying Cai, The University of Texas - Austin

• Zilong Pan, The University of Texas at Austin