Week 4 Social Presence in electronic communication

This week it has been fun to share jokes, cartoons and a voice recording. There have been some overly sensitive members hesitant in sharing jokes. Hence the warm cuddles Kerry.....

Still not heard from all the members who are meant to be taking this course.

We needed to put into a ranking of order, ten points on how to establish a social presence in the classroom (electronic or not).

Here goes:

1. Comfort - Make all feel as comfortable as possible in class. Establish a neutral zone (emotional need for safety and security Maslow's hierarchy of needs)

2. Share experiences (a little ice breaker) This can help in establishing a bond (also common ground - am I similar to you?)

3. Establish mutual trust and respect as quickly as possible.

4. Establish goals (class, individual, short term and long term) This commits the class to a mutual goal.

5. Emotional content - Students will respond and form sub groups if they can buy into the idea (share the emotion)

6. Feeling of community - A strong sense of community adds to the learning satisfaction and identification.

7. Encourage socialisation - To introduce themselves and create social identity (have formal and informal activities - groupwork activities)

8. Establish groups (clusters) to share ideas then share the ideas to the class. (students would bond in their 'cluster' and as a whole)

9. Use of phatic in greetings (on line and email verbal greeting and closure, this gives the receiver value)

10. Use correct netiquette when online.

What do you think? - Maryanne