Educators are finding that communication and interaction are at the core of a successful web-based classroom. This interactivity fosters community, which contributes to effective and meaningful learning. Positive online communities and the communication therein encourage students to interact with others’ views which not only grows one’s empathy, but is an integral part of constructivist learning theories. Because of this, the most important role of an educator in an online class is one that ensures student interactivity and engagement. Creating Teacher Immediacy in Online Learning Environments addresses the most effective models and strategies for nurturing teacher immediacy in web-based and virtual learning environments. A number of innovative methods for building an authentic, personalized online learning experience are outlined and discussed at length within this publication, providing solutions for pre-service as well as in-service educators. This book is a valuable compilation of research for course designers, faculty, students of education, administration, software designers, and higher education researchers.

There are many ways to motivate students to achieve their academic and personal goals. Due to the pandemic, more emphasis has been placed on finding alternative approaches to instruct students. Online learning has become the focal point of the educational setting, and new approaches to teaching are necessary. Since the change in delivery from face-to-face to online, teachers have been faced with motivating their students in an environment that is new and foreign to them. Teachers must find new methods to enhance their curriculum to motivate all students in this modality. The Handbook of Research on Creating Motivational Online Environments for Students considers how online students learn and how they progress through the learning process. The book also provides teaching techniques and technology that will improve motivational success for students in all modalities. Covering topics such as student behavior, online education, and motivational techniques, this premier reference source is ideal for administrators, researchers, academicians, scholars, practitioners, instructors, and students.

The rising number of adult learners interested in online distance education coupled with the increasing competition between educational institutions have forced universities to identify alternative options for course offerings, such as online or blended learning. Instructor immediacy (the measure of the psychological distance which an instructor puts between himself and his students) received significant attention in the communication literature and several studies reported that instructor verbal and nonverbal immediacy behaviors are associated with learning outcomes, satisfaction, and motivation. However, few researchers have examined instructor immediacy in distance learning settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of instructor immediacy behaviors on student perception of instructor immediacy and social presence (the degree to which a person is perceived as "real" in mediated communication) in two online, computer conferencing environments: (a) video and audio with text chat and (b) audio with text chat. Further, this study sought to identify the relationship between perceived instructor immediacy and social presence within the context of the different computer conferencing environments. An ancillary purpose was to determine the effect of immediacy behaviors on learning outcomes as indicated by posttest scores and identify the relationship between perceived instructor immediacy and posttest scores. The study employed a randomized two-factor design to test the effects of instructor immediacy behaviors (high vs. low) and delivery modality (audio vs. video) on student perception of instructor immediacy, social presence, and learning outcomes. Specifically, 433 students enrolled in two sections of an undergraduate psychology course at San Diego State University were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Each group viewed a different version of a scripted and recorded 20-minute online lesson on current perspectives in psychology. Students who viewed the high immediacy sessions indicated significantly higher perception of instructor immediacy and social presence than students who viewed the low immediacy sessions. In addition, students who viewed the high immediacy-video session indicated the highest perception of instructor immediacy and social presence. The results also showed that there was a significant difference in learning outcomes as indicated by immediate posttest scores between students in the high immediacy-audio group and the low immediacy-video group. However, no significant difference was found between the four groups on the learning outcomes as indicated by their scores on the delayed posttest. The correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between perceived instructor immediacy and perceived instructor social presence. Further, a regression analysis revealed that instructor immediacy significantly predicted social presence. Finally, no significant relationship was found between perceived instructor immediacy and learning outcomes as indicated by the immediate or delayed posttest. These findings have significant implications for institutions of higher education that are selecting computer conferencing tools and training faculty to deliver courses online. In addition, this study lays the groundwork for future research in this area and potentially creates a greater awareness regarding the effects of instructor immediacy in online learning environments.

Distance learning and remote learning have been developing options within the eLearning and talent training realms for over two decades, yet distance learning has become a significant reality within the past few months, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic has forever impacted the K-12, higher education, and adult training and talent development workforce solutions. Within the rapid shift into remote and distance learning environments, the curricular design and instructional design are understood as necessary. However, there is a need to understand aspects around social learning within eLearning environments. It is important to understand the opportunity of moving towards transformative social learning environmental engagement and experiences within distance and remote learning environments to improve the ability to understand social learning in eLearning environments. eLearning Engagement in a Transformative Social Learning Environment focuses on supporting and enhancing remote and distance learning (eLearning) instructional experiences, discusses the strategic role of social learning within eLearning environments, and enhances levels of engagement, transformative learning, and talent attainment environments. This book provides insights and support towards policies and procedures within instructional and training decision making around social learning needs and support. The chapters will explore social learning opportunities and support, modeling social learning engagement, communities of practice, and instructional processes of eLearning. The intended audience is teachers, curriculum developers, instructional designers, professionals, researchers, practitioners, and students working in the field of teaching, training, and talent development.

As face-to-face interaction between student and instructor is not present in online learning environments, it is increasingly important to understand how to establish and maintain social presence in online learning. Student-Teacher Interaction in Online Learning Environments provides successful strategies and procedures for developing policies to bring about an awareness of the practices that enhance online learning. This reference book provides building blocks to help improve the outcome of online coursework and discusses social presence to help improve performance, interaction, and a sense of community for all participants in an online arena. This book is of essential use to online educators, administrators, researchers, and students.

Online instruction is rapidly expanding the way professors think about and plan instruction. In addition, online instructional practices are expanding and changing as new tools and strategies are adopted. It is imperative that programs and institutions of higher education explore increased online options that align with best practices to develop effective and engaging online courses. The Handbook of Research on Developing Engaging Online Courses is an essential research publication that provides multiple perspectives on improving student engagement and success in online courses. This book includes topics focused on the online learner, online course content, and effective online instruction. The content contained within the title is ideal for curriculum developers, instructional designers, IT consultants, deans, chairs, teachers, administrators, academicians, researchers, and students.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, most schools had to suddenly shift from traditional face-to-face courses to blended, synchronous, and asynchronous instructional environments. The impact upon the immediacy of remote learning was overwhelming to many faculty, instructional facilitators, teachers, and trainers. Many faculty and trainers have experience with the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of online and blended learning environments, while many faculty and trainers also do not have this knowledge nor experience. As such, the collegial workspace has developed into a collaborative work environment wherein the faculty are helping faculty, partially because the instructional designer staff and learning advisors are overwhelmed with the number of course projects that must be moved from traditional face-to-face course environments into an online environment within a short period of time. The faculty are helping each other make this move, offering course design and development support and also instructional tips and tricks that will support successful blended and online experiences that enhance learning outcomes. Shifting to Online Learning Through Faculty Collaborative Support focuses on supporting and enhancing blended and distance learning course design and development, successful tips for course design and teaching, techniques for online learning, and embracing collegial mentorship and facilitative support for course and faculty success. This book highlights the strength of collegial bonds while discussing tools, methods, procedural efforts, styles of engagement, learning theories, assessment efforts, and even social learning engagement implementations in online learning. It provides information and lessons and embraces a long-term approach towards understanding institutional impact and collegial support. This book is valuable for school administrators, teachers, course designers, instructional designers, school faculty, business and administrative leadership, practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students interested in how faculty collaborative support is playing a critical role in improving and developing successful online learning.

The rising number of adult learners interested in online distance education, coupled with the increasing competition between educational institutions have forced universities to identify alternative options for course offerings, such as online or blended learning. Instructor immediacy (the measure of the psychological distance which an instructor puts between himself and his students) received significant attention in the communication literature and several studies reported that instructor verbal and nonverbal immediacy behaviors are associated with learning outcomes, satisfaction, and motivation. However, few researchers have examined instructor immediacy in distance learning settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of instructor immediacy behaviors on student perception of instructor immediacy and social presence (the degree to which a person is perceived as “real” in mediated communication) in two online, computer conferencing environments: (a) video and audio with text chat and (b) audio with text chat. Further, this study sought to identify the relationship between perceived instructor immediacy and perceived social presence within the context of the different computer conferencing environments. An ancillary purpose was to determine the effect of immediacy behaviors on learning outcomes as indicated by posttest scores and identify the relationship between perceived instructor immediacy and posttest scores. The study employed a randomized two-factor design to test the effects of instructor immediacy behaviors (high vs. low) and delivery modality (audio vs. video) on student perception of instructor immediacy, perception of social presence, and learning outcomes. Specifically, 433 students enrolled in two sections of an undergraduate psychology course at San Diego State University were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Each group viewed a different version of a scripted and recorded 20-minute online lesson on current perspectives in psychology. Students who viewed the high-immediacy sessions indicated significantly higher perception of instructor immediacy and social presence than students who viewed the low-immediacy sessions. In addition, students who viewed the high-immediacy video session indicated the highest perception of instructor immediacy and social presence. The results also showed that there was a significant difference in learning outcomes as indicated by immediate posttest scores between students in the high-immediacy audio group and the low-immediacy video group. However, no significant difference was found between the four groups on the learning outcomes as indicated by their scores on the delayed posttest. The correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between perceived instructor immediacy and perceived instructor social presence. Further, a regression analysis revealed that instructor immediacy significantly predicted social presence. Finally, no significant relationship was found between perceived instructor immediacy and learning outcomes as indicated by the immediate or delayed posttest. These findings have significant implications for institutions of higher education that are selecting computer conferencing tools and training faculty to deliver courses online. In addition, this study lays the groundwork for future research in this area and potentially creates a greater awareness regarding the effects of instructor immediacy in online learning environments.

This carefully balanced set of studies and practitioner research projects carried out in various learning contexts around the world highlights cutting-edge research in the use of digital learning technologies in language classrooms and in online learning. Providing an overview of recent developments in the application of educational technology to language learning and teaching, it looks at the experience of researchers and practitioners in both formal and informal (self-study) learning contexts, bringing readers up to date with this rapidly changing field and the latest developments in research, theory, and practice at both classroom and education system levels.

In the current educational environment, there has been a shift towards online learning as a replacement for the traditional in-person classroom experience. With this new environment comes new technologies, benefits, and challenges for providing courses to students through an entirely digital environment. With this shift comes the necessary research on how to utilize these online courses and how to develop effective online educational materials that fit student needs and encourage student learning, motivation, and success. The optimization of these online tools requires a deeper look into curriculum, instructional design, teaching techniques, and new models for student assessment and evaluation. Information on how to create valuable online course content, engaging lesson plans for the digital space, and meaningful student activities online are only a few of many current topics of interest for promoting student achievement through online learning. The Research Anthology on Developing Effective Online Learning Courses provides multiple perspectives on how to develop engaging and effective online learning courses in the wake of the rapid digitalization of education. This book includes topics focused on online learners, online course content, effective online instruction strategies, and instructional design for the online environment. This reference work is ideal for curriculum developers, instructional designers, IT consultants, deans, chairs, teachers, administrators, academicians, researchers, and students interested in the latest research on how to create online learning courses that promote student success.