Learning Presence: Doctoral Students' Engagement Patterns in Online Discussions and Reflections on Language and Literacy

• In Event: Inquiring as Online Learning Communities (Community of Inquiry)

Abstract

The online medium necessitates students to be independent and self-directed. Thus Shea et al’s (2014) “Learning Presence” (LP) concept is gaining traction and defined as students’ self- and co-regulation of their online behaviors. To explore this emerging concept amongst online language and literacy doctoral students, we undertook a content analysis of online postings in a seminar using Shea’s et al LP framework; a Social Network Analysis; individual interviews; and a Qualtrics survey to all online doctoral students in the program, to situate the findings in a larger context. Findings demonstrated that although the LP framework can be applied to the majority of classroom discussions, the framework did not always capture the additional complexity layers of the advanced students’ online engagement.

Authors

• Faridah Pawan, Indiana University

• Rodney D. Myers, Indiana University

• Rajagopal Sankaranarayanan, Indiana University - Bloomington

• Dorcas Xingqing Miao, Indiana University - Bloomington