Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Oct 2012

Place Existing Online Business Communication Classes into the International Context: Social Presence from Potential Learners' Perspectives

Junhua Wang University of Minnesota, Duluth ; Hua Wang Liaoning Normal University

Abstract

Recent scholarship on global online courses points to the need to examine the issue of social context in an online global learning environment. To explore global learners' cultural perspectives on the social climate of an online class, we first review the social presence theory—which can be used to examine the social climate in an online classroom, and explain factors that contribute to learners' social presence. Then we report findings of a survey conducted among a group of Chinese business students and discuss specific aspects of an online business communication class which might contribute to enhancing global learners' sense of social presence in an online environment. We conclude the study by explaining the present study's implications for delivering effective online business and technical communication courses with global learners and recommending strategies for increasing global audiences' social presence in an online class created by the instructor and the online community.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2012-10-01
DOI
10.2190/tw.42.4.f
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Closed
Topics
technical communication professional writing online writing instruction
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (4)

  1. Salazar et al. (2022)
    Examining Online MBA Students’ Social Presence and Career Planning Self-Confidence
    Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  2. Watts (2019)
    Assessing an Online Student Orientation: Impacts on Retention, Satisfaction, an…
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  3. Watts (2017)
    Beyond Flexibility and Convenience: Using the Community of Inquiry Framework to…
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  4. Martinez (2015)
    Language, History, Politics, and Culture in Global Communication Through the Bo…
    Computers and Composition

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