{"id":544,"date":"2021-09-12T16:56:18","date_gmt":"2021-09-12T23:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0160\/?p=544"},"modified":"2021-09-12T16:56:18","modified_gmt":"2021-09-12T23:56:18","slug":"community-of-inquiry-strategies-for-higher-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0160\/community-of-inquiry-strategies-for-higher-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Community of Inquiry: Strategies for Higher Education"},"content":{"rendered":"

Photo by Gradienta<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n

The predominant understanding in traditional pedagogy is that the educator must teach the content, while learners are responsible for their learning and motivation (Keller, 2010). However, when a framework such as Community of Inquiry<\/em> (CoI) and new digital communication technology are considered, an updated perspective on pedagogy is being offered. Furthermore, according to Vaughan et al. (2013), if the CoI framework is successfully integrated and facilitated, the interplay of teaching, social, cognitive presence can result in higher-order learning with purposeful and critical discourse.
\nTeaching presence<\/strong> is the educator’s responsibility to curate content and facilitate discourse and direct instructions in synchronous and asynchronous learning environments. Vaughan et al. (2013) pressed on the importance of teaching presence. They stated that well-constructed learning environments could foster inquiry to realize personally meaningful and educationally worthwhile learning.<\/p>\n

Social presence<\/strong> is then defined as “the ability of participants in a community of inquiry to project their personal characteristics into the community thereby presenting themselves to others as real people” (Garrison et al., 2000, p. 89). It is where participants identify with the community, build, and foster a trusting and safe learning environment. Additionally, it is a space to share perspectives, stories, and experiences, resulting in in-group cohesion, according to Vaughan et al. (2013). Some strategies suggested, such as acclimation to a learning environment, personalized introductions, activities promoting increased conversations and discourse, and sharing, will create learner motivation and engagement.<\/p>\n

Cognitive presence<\/strong> is identified as a vital element in critical thinking. It is defined as “the extent to which the participants in any particular configuration of a community of inquiry are able to construct meaning through sustained communication” (Garrison et al., 2000, p.12). The authors built upon the narrative further with “cognitive presence reflects higher-order knowledge acquisition in the application and is most associated with literature and research related to critical thinking” (p. 1). Additionally, Garrison & Arbaugh (2007) considered this presence as the heart of an educational experience with four phases and defined by:<\/p>\n