Social Presence in Online Learning

It is extremely important for instructors and students to develop social presence in an online learning environment.  Creating social presence in an online learning environment is imperative to developing successful students and positive outcomes.  When and Adult Learner thinks of an Online Learning environments the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that there is no face to face interaction and all assignments will be completed with the assistance of some technological platform.  Almost immediately an Adult Learner or Digital Immigrant begins to ponder how they will be able to receive feedback, communicate or get in touch with their instructor and classmates.  They also become anxious and sometimes consider dropping out of an Online Learning class because they desire to have the immediate personal touch that a face to face course provides. 

Well-developed social presence can calm and ease many of the Adult Learners concerns about Online Learning.  Social presence can be implemented by incorporating opportunities to communicate, and collaborate within your course design.  Some popular strategies used in Online and Distance Learning are discussion boards, virtual lectures, weekly or bi-weekly live-meetings (collaborate sessions), chat-room discussions, e-mail, and telephone calls.  Some other considerations that need to be addressed in the course design are clear expectations, using rubrics, samples of work, and timely feedback (Ke, 2010).