Where's the human element in online education?

Online education is hot right now. But does it work?

Dr. Janette Hill, assistant professor of instructional technology at The University of Georgia in Athens, is intrigued by how the human element affects Web-based learning environments--particularly in creating a sense of presence and building community.

Online courses can leave students feeling isolated and disconnected. Hill believes everybody wants to connect on some level. "We want to know that somebody is listening or reading or both," she told WIHE. "We want some acknowledgement of our presence on the planet."

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Creating an effective learning community challenges instructors in both traditional and virtual classrooms. A sense of community doesn't always develop in face-to-face classrooms, but the physical presence of students and instructors in the same space matters. "There's a lot that happens with physical presence--a lot that happens by default," said Hill.

As more instructors move into online learning environments, they can't rely on physical presence as a default community builder. It takes even more effort to help students feel connected and engaged.

Due to a work conflict, Hill wasn't able to present this year at the 19th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning in Madison WI as planned. But she shared her research and thoughts on creating presence and building community with WIHE. Her paper quoted in this article was published in the Journal of Computing in Higher Education in 2002.