Internet Learning Volume 4, Number 1, Spring 2015 | Page 12

Internet Learning Journal – Volume 4, Issue 1 – Spring 2015
Online classes offer learners the unique opportunity to reflect and research before
responding to issues being discussed in class, which is different in face-to-face classes,
where learners have to respond to issues sometimes without much reflection and research.
(Christie, Garrote & Jurado, 2009). With the increased use of computers, cell phones, the
Internet, and other wireless devices, today’s learners are more connected than ever before,
yet disconnected at the same time--especially from the interruptions created by mobile
devise (La Roche & Flanigan, 2012). It becomes the responsibility of the course instructor to
communicate with the disconnected or distracted students to increase their interaction with
the course content and give them a sense of community. As La Roche and Flanigan (2012)
pointed out, “The creation of a meaningful learning environment is the key to enhancing the
educational experience. It is generally agreed that engaged students learn more and retain
more of what they learn” (p. 47).
The Value for Learner Engagement in Virtual Learning Environments
Engagement, motivation and learning are important in both educational and
organizational settings. Online classes, online learning and teaching professional
development require the formation of a positive environment, where learners are capable of
creating inclusive learning experiences (Keller, 2008). In this study, as mentioned earlier,
the term ‘organization’ is used in a broader context to include both for-profit and non-profit
institutions or companies.
Ally, (2004) proposed that in the global context, many multinational companies are
delivering online training to their employees. Lip, Morrison and Kuprtitz (2014) proposed
that “For private sector organizations, one of the most significant benefits of online
instruction has been just-in-time delivery of training when employees need learning to
effectively address performance problems in the workplace” (p. 28). Engaging learners in
the virtual environment is identified as a challenge in organizations. Similarly, in the higher
education sector, the focus is to minimize the disadvantages associated with online learning
while enhancing the positive effects.
The field of human resource development advocates for equipping learners with
tools that promote and support overall learning, growth and development (Nafukho,
Amutabi, & Otunga, 2005, Nafukho, Wawire & Lam, 2011). The core components of
human resource development, i.e. career development, training and development and
organization development, focus on improving performance at both organizational and
individual levels (Swanson & Holton, 2008). Therefore, performing a search for suitable
teaching presence strategies and teaching immediacy will help improve learning and
performance at the individual level, and also will help organizations achieve a confident and
skilled workforce.
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