The Level of Community of Inquiry (CoI) Presences in Online Classes among MSU BTESL Students

Abstract

Community of Inquiry (CoI) is a framework that acknowledges the importance of the environment in shaping the educational experience. According to this framework, teaching, social, and cognitive presences are essential for an optimal online learning experience. The purpose of this study is to identify the level of each of these presences in online classes among Management and Science University (MSU) Bachelor in Education – TESL (Hons). The instrument used for the research tool was adapted from the original CoI framework survey, (Arbaugh et al, 2008). The questionnaire consists of 20 items; six items for teaching presence, another six items for social presence and eight items for the cognitive presence. 263 students who are currently doing the programme participated in the study. The findings concluded that, all three presences are present in high or strong level in online classes among MSU BTESL students with the most substantial presence in online classes among MSU BTESL students being the cognitive presence, followed by the teaching presence and lastly the social presence.