Week 2 Activities and Topics

MODULE DESCRIPTION

streamEncouraging social presence from participants in your online course is an important part of the community building process. Imagine if an instructor didn’t show up to teach in a face-to-face class? What makes an instructor successful in an online classroom is no different than a face-to-face classroom. Your role as the lecturer or faculty is to help your students become more involved in the subject area and content, connect them with you (the professor), and other students.

In this module, learners will explore techniques to increase social presence in online courses. Live sessions with Rena Palloff and the point/counterpoint session with Maha Bali and Peggy Semingson this week will dig deeper into how to build community online and explore the use of asynchronous and synchronous tools for facilitating presence.

MODULE COMPETENCIES

  • Competency 4: Creates a set of personal goals for adding social presence into class
  • Competency 5: Demonstrates tools and designs for integrating social presence into class
  • Competency 6: Reflects on social presence experiences and tips

GUIDING QUESTIONS

  • What are your thoughts about learning online and developing community online?
  • Consider how students must feel when they cannot meet with their classmates and instructor in the classroom, how can you make them feel connected to their learning community?
  • How can your learning activity design enhance the social connectedness of learners?

MODULE OBJECTIVES

  • Examine the use of asynchronous tools to extend the boundaries of the classroom.
  • Consider how you can leverage technology to help students be more “real” with each other.
  • Set achievable personal goals for establishing your social presence and for utilizing social media tools.

TO-DO LIST

  • Read articles and watch videos regarding social presence.
  • Join the Social Presence Hangout with Patrick Lowenthal (December 20, 2015, 5:00 PM CST).
  • Join the Social Presence Hangout with Catherine Cronin (December 21, 2015, 11:00 AM CST).
  • Join the Virtually Connecting and Social Presence Hangout with Maha Bali (December 21, 2015, 2:00 PM CST)
  • Participate through blogging or twitter during live twitter chats during the Google Hangouts (hashtag #HumanMOOC).
  • Complete the Setting Personal Goals Activity by utilizing Flipgrid.
  • Complete the Demonstrate Social Presence Tools and Design Activity by participating in the Canvas Discussion forum.
  • Complete the Reflect on Social Presence Activity by participating in the Canvas Discussion forum.