Lei, Clemente, and Hu | EPET Brown Bag | April 3, 2017
Post date: Apr 10, 2017 6:58:33 PM
Title: Telepresence and Engagement in a Synchronous-Hybrid Learning Environment
Abstract: The EPET doctoral program features a number of courses designed for synchronous hybrid learning, in which physically present and telepresent participants interact in real time. For this study, we wanted to better understand how different forms of telepresence (videoconferencing and robotic telepresence) can affect student engagement in a synchronous hybrid environment. Our research questions focused on three aspects of engagement (cognitive, affective and behavioral) and two aspects of telepresence (social presence and embodiment). Using both surveys and video recordings of actual class sessions, we examined how the following factors affected telepresent graduate students’ course engagement: their sense of being in a physical space, their sense of being with their classmates (both telepresent and physically present), and their sense of being with a physically present instructor. This presentation will provide an overview of our initial findings involving three cases of varying combinations of social presence, embodiment, and engagement.