Online Learning: Social Interaction and the Creation of a Sense of Community

Autor/inn/en	McInnerney, Joanne M.; Roberts, Tim S.
Titel	Online Learning: Social Interaction and the Creation of a Sense of Community
Quelle	In: Educational Technology & Society, 7 (2004) 3, S.73-81 (9 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1436-4522
Schlagwörter	Distance Education; Online Courses; Interpersonal Relationship; Social Environment; Virtual Classrooms; Aptitude Treatment Interaction; Social Networks; Network Analysis; Instructional Design; Educational Strategies; Synchronous Communication; Educational Technology + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Online course; Online-Kurs; Interpersonal relation; Interpersonal relations; Interpersonelle Beziehung; Zwischenmenschliche Beziehung; Soziales Umfeld; Social network; Soziales Netzwerk; Netzplantechnik; Lesson concept; Lessonplan; Unterrichtsentwurf; Lehrstrategie; Unterrichtsmedien
Abstract	This paper centres on the sense of isolation that online study may engender among learners, a factor often ignored by many educators, but one that may make the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful online learning environment for many students. The importance of a proper appreciation of the learners' social context is stressed, as is the concept of the "virtual self" that individual learners may choose to portray during online communication. The authors suggest three protocols that can be built into the fabric of online courses in order that a sense of community may be enabled to exist, and productive social interaction can occur. These are (1) the greater use of synchronous communication facilities (in addition to, rather than instead of, asynchronous ones), (2) the deliberate design and inclusion of a "forming" stage, or "warm-up" period, incorporated as an essential component into the course structure, and (3) a much greater emphasis on the provision of (and adherence to) guidelines for successful online communication. The paper concludes by suggesting that by creating an online sense of "self", the participants of an online course can alleviate feelings of isolation, and create an online community that assists the learning process. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	International Forum of Educational Technology & Society. Athabasca University, School of Computing & Information Systems, 1 University Drive, Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3, Canada. Tel: 780-675-6812; Fax: 780-675-6973; Web site: http://www.ifets.info
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10