Fact to Face?

This article "Learners' Perspectives on What is Missing from Online Learning: Interpretations through the Community of Inquiry Framework"discusses a research project of online learners who site missing face-to-face contact. It explores what exactly it is about the face-to-face contact that they miss. The three authors have a background in "ground" and online teaching at the university level and offer their "take" on the five themes that emerged when conducting the resource.

When I read the article I wondered if the concept of "presence" is really due to the fact that it is an online course, or the way those particular courses were designed. Considering the fact that are growing numbers of people who participate in many intimate human interactions via chat rooms, anonymous phone dating, etc. I began to wonder if the concept of "presence" has more to do with a person's perception (as noted in the title) of "presence."

I also wondered how many students in "ground" courses feel the lack of "presence" in courses that have certainly face-to-face contact, but do not strive to create a learning community. Perhaps a larger "look" at the new ways in which community is being perceived and constructed would inform both teaching environments.