The Intersection of Social Presence and Impression Management in Online Learning Environments

Abstract

In our day-to-day routines, we are being asked to extend ourselves into virtual environments that capture mere glimpses of who we are and what we think. As education focuses on the development of online learning environments, we are once again asked to recreate ourselves for another environment. This article explores aspects of social presence and impression management within formal and informal online learning environments. It will examine the point of intersection between the theories of social presence and impression management as they relate to social network and learning sites and discursive practices. Social presence is understood as a key component of the constructivist and situated learning that can take place in online learning environments. An individual's impression management, which might be understood as their ability to send/read, recognize and be recognized through those cues they choose to present, becomes intertwined with their learning experience. At what point do these two theories intersect, and what implications does this have for the design of online learning environments?