Authors : S. Indra Devi, Zaini Amir and Pramela Krish
Abstract: Today’s era of pervasive technology and immersive computing environments require language instructors to take a leap from traditional classroom practices to new instructional approaches that embrace computer mediated communication. The integration of computer mediated communication in teaching and learning necessitates studies on the social presence of learners as it is a critical attribute that determines the way learners interact and communicate. This study, thus, aims to investigate how the engineering undergraduates of limited language proficiency mediate oral communication in the group Facebook activities as well as to identify the indicators of social presence that are most frequently used by them in their Facebook postings. The model and template for assessment of social presence by Rourke was used in this study to identify the indicators of social presence that were frequently employed by the participants in the Facebook postings. Thematic analysis was used to analyse and categorize the emerging themes. Findings indicate that the limited language learners were able to mediate oral communication in a relaxed and non-threatening atmosphere by expressing their opinions, expressing agreement, discussing with elaborations and making a standpoint in their discussions. It was also evident that indicators of the interactive category were more frequently employed in comparison to the affective and cohesive category. Thus, the findings implicate on the significance and positive contributions of Facebook towards the self-esteem of the limited language learners besides developing a sense of community among the learners.
S. Indra Devi, Zaini Amir and Pramela Krish, 2017. Social Presence of Engineering Undergraduates with Limited Language Proficiency in an Asynchronous Computer-Mediated Context. The Social Sciences, 12: 1522-1531.