Effects of online teaching presence on students' interactions and collaborative knowledge construction. (11th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Yang; Liu, Qingtang
• Is Part Of: Journal of computer assisted learning. Volume 36:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 370
• Page End: 382
• Publication Date: 2019-12-11
• Subjects: collaborative knowledge construction -- content analysis -- interaction -- online courses -- social network analysis -- teaching presence; Computer-assisted instruction -- Periodicals; 371.334
• DOI: 10.1111/jcal.12408
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-4909

Abstract

Abstract: This study analysed the instructors' teaching presence of three courses conducted by an instructor to explore the effects of the instructors' online teaching presence on students' interactions and collaborative knowledge constructions. Content analysis, social network analysis, and lag sequential analysis were used to explore the mechanism of teaching presence on students' interactions and collaborative knowledge construction. Results demonstrate that the design and organization, as well as facilitating discourse, can facilitate students' interaction, reduce the number of peripheral students, and facilitate students' collaborative knowledge construction, especially in the knowledge sharing, discovery, discussion, and application, whereas direct instruction has positive effects on teachers' centrality and negative effects on knowledge negotiation and testing. The result can give the instructors some guidance on online teaching practices. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic Online learning is pervading higher education. Teaching presence is essential to students' online learning. Interaction and knowledge construction are indicators of online learning. What this paper adds Direct instruction had positive effects on instructor's centrality. Design and facilitating have positive effects on sharing, discovery, and agreement. Direct instruction has negative effects on negotiation and testing. Activity design is essential to students' learning.