The Role of Activity Awareness for Social Ability,

Sense of Community and Satisfaction in Online Learning

James Laffey¹   I-Chun Tsai²   Chris Amelung³   Ran-Young Hong¹

Krista Galyen¹   Sean Goggins⁴

（1.University of Missouri,U.S.A；

2.University of Akron,U.S.A.;

3.Yale University,U.S.A.；4.Drexel University,U.S.A）

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship and influence of enhanced activity awareness on the social nature of online learning. As part of a design research project we have been building an understanding of the construct of social ability in online learning and developing a system to support the use of activity awareness as a means to improve social ability in online learning. A survey including an instrument to measure social ability collected students’ perceptions about their online learning experience across six online courses using the activity awareness support system. The results show that students’ ways of accessing activity information and their appreciation of the usefulness of activity information toward their learning goals influences their social ability, sense of community, and satisfaction in online learning. Additionally, aspects of students’ social ability differentially influence a sense of community and learning satisfaction. Perceptions of peers’ and instructor’s social presence and comfort in sharing personal information with others impacts sense of community, and perceptions of the instructor’s social presence and sense of community impact learning satisfaction.

Key words: social ability; sense of community; technology acceptance; path analysis

【CLC numbers】G434【Document code】A【Article ID】1007-2179(2010)03-0136-08

在线学习中活动感知对社会性技能、

社群归属感和学习满意度的影响

詹姆斯·拉菲¹  蔡宜君²  克里斯·阿梅龙³