Community of Inquiry
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? A case could be made for each as they both need the other. The same can be said for the design and the delivery of an online course; each needs the other.
Let's consider the delivery of online courses by looking at some popular online learning theories. The first we will explore is the Community of Inquiry (CoI). The CoI framework revolves around a collaborative constructivist learning experience that has three core elements - 1) cognitive presence, 2) teaching presence, and 3) social presence.
Let's consider the delivery of online courses by looking at some popular online learning theories. The first we will explore is the Community of Inquiry (CoI). The CoI framework revolves around a collaborative constructivist learning experience that has three core elements - 1) cognitive presence, 2) teaching presence, and 3) social presence.
Cognitive Presence
How students will engage in practical inquiry and critical thinking about concepts of the course is the core of cognitive presence. The challenge facing the delivery of online content is to actively facilitate the ever-critical community of inquiry among online students. To establish higher-order thinking skills, students need to analyze, question, and even challenge assumptions. The instructor facilitates by giving feedback that moves students to the next level or probes students to consider other options, sometimes even playing the “devil’s advocate” to move students to deeper reflection and thinking. Some suggestions to build cognitive presence are listed below.
How students will engage in practical inquiry and critical thinking about concepts of the course is the core of cognitive presence. The challenge facing the delivery of online content is to actively facilitate the ever-critical community of inquiry among online students. To establish higher-order thinking skills, students need to analyze, question, and even challenge assumptions. The instructor facilitates by giving feedback that moves students to the next level or probes students to consider other options, sometimes even playing the “devil’s advocate” to move students to deeper reflection and thinking. Some suggestions to build cognitive presence are listed below.
- Establish discussion “netiquette” while encouraging respectful discourse and debate.
- Help students make connections between the course content and their life experiences or potential future experiences.
- Guide students to look at different perspectives or explore further options; strive to move them to deeper reflection and thinking.
(Beck, Cognitive Presence, 2015)
Teaching Presence
Teaching presence is very different in an online environment than in a face-to-face classroom setting. There are three basic elements involved in teaching presence; 1) the structure of the course and the teaching methodologies, 2) facilitating course discussions and interactions, and 3) direct instruction. Some issues to consider are:
Teaching presence is very different in an online environment than in a face-to-face classroom setting. There are three basic elements involved in teaching presence; 1) the structure of the course and the teaching methodologies, 2) facilitating course discussions and interactions, and 3) direct instruction. Some issues to consider are:
- How will you facilitate online discussions?
- Will you teach by incorporating video or audio lectures?
- How will you make yourself accessible for questions and information?
- What steps can you take to add a human dimension to your teaching?
(Beck, Teaching Presence, 2015)
Social Presence
The ability of learners to present themselves socially and emotionally in an online learning environment is what is meant by “social presence.” Developing a social presence will help facilitate the process of building community among the online learners and the instructor, thereby closing the distance gap in an online environment. What can the instructor do to help pave the way for positive social connections for a successful learning experience? Here are just a few ideas:
The ability of learners to present themselves socially and emotionally in an online learning environment is what is meant by “social presence.” Developing a social presence will help facilitate the process of building community among the online learners and the instructor, thereby closing the distance gap in an online environment. What can the instructor do to help pave the way for positive social connections for a successful learning experience? Here are just a few ideas:
- Welcome your learners to the course with an instructor introduction. Let them see your human side by sharing some personal tidbits along with your professional credentials. Consider a video or audio introduction along with a still image of yourself so they have a mental image of who you are.
- Provide a means for the students to introduce themselves as well as welcome their fellow classmates. Allow students the opportunity to post a picture, video, or audio response. Promptly reply to each introduction with a personal welcome.
- Model the type of online presence you expect from your students and encourage them to share content-related personal life experience as a learning opportunity for the entire class.
(Beck, Social Presence, 2015)
Bringing it all together
The below Venn diagram sums up the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework and how the three components work together to make a positive educational experience.
The below Venn diagram sums up the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework and how the three components work together to make a positive educational experience.
References
Anderson, T. (2018, February). How communities of inquiry drive teaching and learning in the digital age. Retrieved from Teach Online: https://teachonline.ca/tools-trends/insights-online-learning/2018-02-27/how-communities-inquiry-drive-teaching-and-learning-digital-age
Athabasca University. (n.d.). A CoI for the CoI - Welcome to the Comunity of Inquiry. Retrieved August 22, 2018, from The Community of Inquiry: http://www.thecommunityofinquiry.org/
Beck, D. (2015, September 9). Community of Inquiry: Cognitive Presence. Retrieved from The Evolllution: https://evolllution.com/programming/teaching-and-learning/community-of-inquiry-cognitive-presence/
Beck, D. (2015, August 26). Community of Inquiry: Social Presence. Retrieved from The Evolllution: https://evolllution.com/programming/teaching-and-learning/community-of-inquiry-social-presence/
Beck, D. (2015, September 16). Community of Inquiry: Teaching Presence. Retrieved from The Evolllution: https://evolllution.com/programming/teaching-and-learning/community-of-inquiry-teaching-presence/
Borup, J. (2014, June 20). Community of Inquiry. Retrieved from YouTube: https://youtu.be/273WuFa6Z04
Garrison, D. R. (2007, April). Researching the community of inquiry framework: Review, issues, and future directions. Retrieved from The Reinvention Network: http://reinventnet.org/moodle/pluginfile.php/1196/mod_resource/content/3/COIreview.pdf
Tolu, A. T. (2013). Creating effective communities of inquiry in online courses. Retrieved from ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042813001584
Anderson, T. (2018, February). How communities of inquiry drive teaching and learning in the digital age. Retrieved from Teach Online: https://teachonline.ca/tools-trends/insights-online-learning/2018-02-27/how-communities-inquiry-drive-teaching-and-learning-digital-age
Athabasca University. (n.d.). A CoI for the CoI - Welcome to the Comunity of Inquiry. Retrieved August 22, 2018, from The Community of Inquiry: http://www.thecommunityofinquiry.org/
Beck, D. (2015, September 9). Community of Inquiry: Cognitive Presence. Retrieved from The Evolllution: https://evolllution.com/programming/teaching-and-learning/community-of-inquiry-cognitive-presence/
Beck, D. (2015, August 26). Community of Inquiry: Social Presence. Retrieved from The Evolllution: https://evolllution.com/programming/teaching-and-learning/community-of-inquiry-social-presence/
Beck, D. (2015, September 16). Community of Inquiry: Teaching Presence. Retrieved from The Evolllution: https://evolllution.com/programming/teaching-and-learning/community-of-inquiry-teaching-presence/
Borup, J. (2014, June 20). Community of Inquiry. Retrieved from YouTube: https://youtu.be/273WuFa6Z04
Garrison, D. R. (2007, April). Researching the community of inquiry framework: Review, issues, and future directions. Retrieved from The Reinvention Network: http://reinventnet.org/moodle/pluginfile.php/1196/mod_resource/content/3/COIreview.pdf
Tolu, A. T. (2013). Creating effective communities of inquiry in online courses. Retrieved from ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042813001584