TABLE 1 Framework for Thinking About... | Emerald Publishing

TABLE 1

Framework for Thinking About Social Connectedness in Online Learning

Group Structure Theory	Communication Theory
Group Structure Theory	Instructor (Source)	Tech (Channel)	Learners (Receivers)
Initial status assessment	1. Recognize differences in online pedagogies and incorporate strategies that facilitate learners’ efforts to initially assess their position within the class group.	2. Capitalize on what technology can do and overcome what technology cannot do in order to facilitate learners’ efforts to initially assess their position within the class group.	3. Manage learners’ technical literacy and/or access level in order to facilitate the communication necessary to initially assess their position within the class group.
Norm development	4. Recognize differences in online pedagogies and incorporate strategies that accommodate frequent interaction necessary for norm development.	5. Capitalize on what technology can do and overcome what technology cannot do in order to accommodate frequent interaction necessary for norm development.	6. Manage the frequency of learners’ interaction necessary for norm development.
Role differentiation	7. Recognize differences in online pedagogies and incorporate strategies that accommodate participants getting to know one another sufficiently to realize their role within the group.	8. Capitalize on what technology can do and overcome what technology cannot do in order to accommodate participants getting to know one another sufficiently to realize their role within the group.	9. Manage issues of online student collegiality so they can realize their role within the group.

Group Structure Theory	Communication Theory
Group Structure Theory	Instructor (Source)	Tech (Channel)	Learners (Receivers)
Initial status assessment	1. Recognize differences in online pedagogies and incorporate strategies that facilitate learners’ efforts to initially assess their position within the class group.	2. Capitalize on what technology can do and overcome what technology cannot do in order to facilitate learners’ efforts to initially assess their position within the class group.	3. Manage learners’ technical literacy and/or access level in order to facilitate the communication necessary to initially assess their position within the class group.
Norm development	4. Recognize differences in online pedagogies and incorporate strategies that accommodate frequent interaction necessary for norm development.	5. Capitalize on what technology can do and overcome what technology cannot do in order to accommodate frequent interaction necessary for norm development.	6. Manage the frequency of learners’ interaction necessary for norm development.
Role differentiation	7. Recognize differences in online pedagogies and incorporate strategies that accommodate participants getting to know one another sufficiently to realize their role within the group.	8. Capitalize on what technology can do and overcome what technology cannot do in order to accommodate participants getting to know one another sufficiently to realize their role within the group.	9. Manage issues of online student collegiality so they can realize their role within the group.