Creating a Sense of Presence in Online Teaching: How to "Be There" for Distance Learners

Creating a Sense of Presence in Online Teaching This important new resource shows how a strong sense of online presence contributes to greater student satisfaction and retention. The authors explore the psychological and social aspects of online presence from both the instructor and student perspective and provide an instructional design framework for developing effective online learning. Based on solid research and extensive experience, the book is filled with suggested methods, illustrative case scenarios, and effective activities for creating, maintaining, and evaluating presence throughout an online course. "The authors have taken the mystery out of the critical concept of presence by providing the theory that supports its importance and simple techniques to make it happen. Instructors who read this book will be able to develop effective online learning communities and achieve desired learning outcomes." ?Rena M. Palloff and Keith Pratt, program directors and faculty, Teaching in the Virtual Classroom Program, Fielding Graduate University "Lehman and Conceição blend hands-on experience, research, and a collection of practical tips to provide every online instructor with strategies for 'being there.' If you want to bring the real you into your online classes and take your online teaching to the next level, this is the book to read." ?Chip Donohue, director of distance learning, Erikson Institute "This book provides a practical and interactive model to help readers reflect on why and how they can guide online and blended learning activities, characterized by a personal 'sense of presence.'" ? Alan B. Knox, professor, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Table of Contents:
List of Figures, Exhibits, and Tables v Preface vii About the Authors xiii ONE The Role of Presence in the Online Environment 1 Why Is It Important to Understand Presence? 2 Creating a Sense of Presence 3 What We Know About Presence 4 Presence as the Result of Our Perceptual Process 6 Understanding Presence 7 Summary 12 TWO Ways in Which Presence Can Be Experienced 13 Types of Experience 15 Modes of Presence 18 Dimensions of the Learner 20 The Being There for the Online Learner Model 21 Summary 24 THREE Designing Your Online Course with a Sense of Presence 25 Determinants of Presence 26 Framework for Designing Online Courses with a Sense of Presence 30 Getting Yourself "There" for Your Online Course 37 Getting Your Learners “There” for Your Online Course 40 Summary 41 FOUR Activities That Create a Sense of Presence in Your Online Course 43 Before the Course Begins 45 During the Online Course 65 End of the Course 77 How to Know If Presence Is “There” in Your Online Course 84 Summary 93 FIVE Are You Here or There? Making Sense of Presence 95 Case 1. Getting to Know You and Your Course 95 Case 2. Second Life Participation and Blogging 99 Case 3. Creating a Web-Based Training Course as a Team 104 Creating a Syllabus with a Sense of Presence 109 Final Thoughts and Future Directions 109 Appendix 1: Training Resources 113 Appendix 2: Online Course Design Resources 115 Appendix 3: Sample Syllabus 117 Definitions of Terms 129 References 133 Index 137