Title: Transactional distance and teaching presence in e-learning environments

Authors: Julia Penn Shaw; Jianhao Chen

Addresses: Center for Distance Learning, Empire State College/State University of New York, 113 West Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12189, USA. ' Center for Distance Learning, Empire State College/State University of New York, 113 West Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12189, USA

Abstract: Adopting an ecological systems model (Shaw and Chacon, 2010), we propose using transactional distance (TD) to assess three aspects of e-learning environments: the essential learner-teacher dialogue; teaching presence (social, cognitive and cultural); and levels of infrastructure (basic, grounded and emergent). We analyse the e-learning system for: goal of a dynamic learner-teacher dialogue; engagement through effective teaching presence; management of teaching presence through short transactional distances; and support of transactional distances through levels of infrastructure. Short transactional distances for teaching presence within the framework of e-learning transactional distance improve effective e-learning at the heart of the learning system: the learner/teacher dialogue.

Keywords: electronic learning; online learning; internet; world wide web; transactional distances; teaching presence; ecological systems; learner-teacher dialogues; social aspects; cognitive aspects; cultural aspects; basic infrastructures; grounded infrastructures; emergent infrastructures; student engagement; transactional spaces; e-learning ecology; cultural presence; Julia Penn Shaw; Fabio Chacon; innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2012.044328

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2012 Vol.11 No.1, pp.44 - 59

Published online: 28 Aug 2014 *

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