Social media can be used as a way to increase community of inquiry in online courses, where students are often completing their coursework alone. During this session we will answer the question, how might we use social media to promote community of inquiry in online courses regardless of discipline?
Community of inquiry (COI) is a theoretical framework based on the idea that meaningful and influential learning experiences occur in online learning with the combination of social, cognitive and teaching presence (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 1999). Even more so social media has been known to facilitate social interactions and make connections between individuals (Anderson, 2017). LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are the most commonly used social media sites. Social media can be used as a way to increase community of inquiry in online courses, where students are often completing their work alone and can become lonely. However, some faculty members are against the use of social media in online courses, while students find it enjoyable
Participants will be grouped by chosen discipline. Each discipline will be required to use an existing assignment, (one will be provided if necessary). The goal of this session is to brainstorm ways to enhance or tailor assignments to use social media to promote community of inquiry. The presenter will walk around the room and offer tips and suggestions during the break out session. After the alloted time, each group will share their assignment. While all assignments will not be completely developed due to time, each group will be able to share which social media platform they chose and why, how social media enhances the assignments and how it directly uses social, cognitive and teaching presence.