Understanding Learning Community Development: Temporal Trend of Student Closeness in Online Social Interaction and Social Presence

• In Event: AERA Virtual Poster Session 2
  In Poster Session: Designing Meaningful Learning Experiences

Abstract

Social presence (SP) is indispensable to online discussion learning community. However, it is unclear of the relationship between SP and diversified socio-interconnectivity development. The current study empirically investigated: How student closeness in social interaction of their online discussion will change over time? And how will each of four aspects of students’ SP moderate the temporal trend of student closeness in social interaction of their online discussion? First, student closeness remained unchanged over time. Moreover, the flat trend in closeness development was observed among students with various levels SP. Overall, students maintained strong but diversified socio-interconnectivity in online discussion learning community.

Authors

• Cherng-Jyh Yen, Old Dominion University

• Chih-Hsiung Tu, Northern Arizona University

• E. Emre Ozkeskin, Anadolu University

• Hoda Harati, North Arizona University

• Christina Gabaldon, Northern Arizona University

• Alexandra Miller, Northern Arizona University

• Catharyn Crane Shelton, Northern Arizona University

• Laura Esthela Sujo-Montes, Northern Arizona University