Community of Inquiry Model

Seth Allen, MLIS, MAInstructional Technologist

South College

Three Presences of

Teaching

tinyurl.com/threepresences

Parable of the Elephant and Blind Men

Introducing the COI ModelThe community of inquiry is a conceptual framework for optimizing learning environments. The framework is collaborative model with three interdependent elements:

● Cognitive Presence - Ability of learners to construct meaning through sustained communication

● Social Presence - Ability of students to ‘be themselves’ in a community of peers

● Teaching Presence - 1) Selection, organization delivery of teaching materials, 2) Facilitating social & cognitive presence of learners

Introducing the COI Model

Defining Cognitive PresenceCognitive presence is defined as “the extent to which learners are able to construct and confirm meaning through sustained reflection and discourse.” (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2001). This occurs through what is called the ‘Practical Inquiry Model’ - a process of realizing a gap in knowledge, researching, reflecting, and integrating meaning with other learners.

Garrison, D. R., & Archer, W. (2000). A transactional perspective on teaching learning: A framework for adult and higher education. Oxford, UK: Pergamon

Cognitive Presence in ActionThe Practical Inquiry Model

Cognitive Presence in ActionThe Practical Inquiry Model

Elements Categories Indicators (examples only)

Cognitive Presence Triggering event Sense of puzzlement

Exploration Information exchange

Integration Connecting ideas

Resolution Apply new ideas

Table adapted from:Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (1999). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2), 87-105.

Fostering Cognitive PresenceGuidelines for supporting cognitive presence:● Are students give activities to reflect on and process new

information? ● Do you pique students’ interest in a topic? ● Do you guide students towards learning about a topic? ● Do learning activities help students to construct a solution or

understanding?

Defining Social PresenceSocial presence is defined as “the degree to which students in a computer-mediated communication feel affectively connected to one another” (Swan, Garrison, & Richardson, 2009, p. 9).

Social presence has 3 components (Swan, Garrison, & Richardson, 2009, p. 10):1. Affective expression 2. Open communication3. Group cohesion

Swan, K., Garrison, D. R., & Richardson, J. (2009). A constructivist approach to online learning: The community of inquiry framework. In C. R. Payne (Ed.),Information technology and constructivism in higher education: Progressive learning frameworks (pp. 43-57). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

Social Presence in ActionElements Categories Indicators

(examples only)

Social Presence Emotional expression Using emoticons

Open communication Risk-free expression

Group cohesion Encouraging collaboration

Table adapted from:Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (1999). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2), 87-105.

Fostering Social PresenceGuidelines for supporting social presence:● Do students feel comfortable asking questions and sharing

their opinions ● Are their clear expectations for civil discourse in your

classroom? ○ Peer-to-peer○ Student-to-instructor

● Do group activities lead to a sense of social cohesion in your classes?

Defining Teaching PresenceTeaching presence consists of two functions which are primarily the role of the instructor (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 1999):● Design of the educational experience

○ Selection and presentation of content○ Assessment

● Facilitating collaboration among peers● Direct instruction

Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (1999). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2), 87-105.

Teaching Presence in ActionElements Categories Indicators

(examples only)

Social Presence Instructional management Defining and initiating discussion topics

Building understanding Sharing personal meaning

Direct instruction Focusing discussion

Table adapted from:Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (1999). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2), 87-105.

Fostering Teaching PresenceGuidelines for supporting teaching presence:● Do instructors model civil discourse? ● Do instructors encourage group activities aimed at develop

critical thinking? ● Do class activities reflect clear learning objectives? ● Does the instructor keep students on task? ● Does the instructor encourage students to come to resolve

problems as a group?

Group ActivityPlease visit the following link to participate in the group activity:

tinyurl.com/coiactivity

Helpful ResourcesArticles

Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (1999). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2), 87-105.

Ke, F. (2010). Examining online teaching, cognitive, and social presence for adult students. Computers & Education, 55(2), 808-820.

Lambert, J. L., & Fisher, J. L. (2013). Community of inquiry framework: Establishing community in an online course. Journal of Interactive Online Learning, 12(1), 1-16.

Swan, K., Garrison, D. R., & Richardson, J. (2009). A constructivist approach to online learning: The community of inquiry framework. In C. R. Payne (Ed.),Information technology and constructivism in higher education: Progressive learning frameworks (pp. 43-57). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

Zydney, J. (2014). Strategies for creating a community of inquiry through online asynchronous discussions. Journal of Online Learning and Teaching,10(1), 153.

Helpful Resources

● Communities of Inquiry Pinterest Board● Sense of Community Index● Community of Inquiry website● The Community of Inquiry: Building an Engaged Presence for Learning in

the Online Classroom [Powerpoint slides]● Three Presences Survey● A Garden of Three Presences● Cognitive Presence in Online Courses - Are You Doing It?● 7 Things Instructional Designers Can Do to Improve Social Presence in

Online Learning

Websites and Presentations