The ties that bind

Social presence, relations and productive collaboration in online learning environments

Abstract

This paper contributes to the growing body of knowledge which identifies benefits for online learning in the understanding of mediated social processes. It reports on an exploratory study into the nature, role and function of online social presence and a potential link between social presence and learner support in text-based online learning environments. Employing a qualitative collective case study design, the study sought to produce understandings of mediated social processes which were grounded in the experiences of learners in text-based online learning environments. Informed by social network analysis, the paper presents key findings of that study including (a) a definition of social presence as described by online learners (b) the role social presence in the development of relations and ties between online learners and (c) the progressive development of relational states which leads to productive collaboration.