This paper presents a study grounded in the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework using qualitative content analysis and focus group interviews in an effort to identify aspects of learning presence in a blended learning course. Research has suggested that the CoI framework may need additional emphasis based on the roles of strategic learners in online environments. Consequently, this qualitative study investigated the extent to which learning presence, the fourth presence of the CoI framework, manifested itself in a blended mode of delivery. The specific focus was on learning presence and how it precipitated in a blended-learning environment. Findings from the study indicated that a lack of self-regulation skills, such as time-management, coordination, and management of tasks, influenced the learning presence and required a stronger teaching presence. We concluded that self-regulation skills are supportive of effective learning in a blended learning environment.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Despite the overwhelming interest in the community of inquiry (CoI) framework, there is a lack of research regarding the role of students' self-directed learning (SDL) skills in a blended learning environment. This student self-regulation, therefore, serves as a basis for a new form of presence within the community of inquiry framework, described as “learning presence.” Although reports have been made on guidelines for the establishment of the initial presences in the community of inquiry framework, there is still a gap in the literature regarding the establishment of a learning presence. The purpose of this chapter is to report on what a learning presence is, and the authors propose a model as a guide to establish a learning presence. The findings of this qualitative study confirm that students can work self-directedly, and therefore, the combined blended learning design model can be used as a design tool to establish a learning presence.