Designing the Online Learning Environment with Informal Communication Based on the Community of Inquiry

Abstract

This design-based research applied the Community of Inquiry, traditionally used in formal learning environments, to learning environments based on informal communication. While formal learning can be effectively facilitated online, learning through informal communication tends to be overlooked. This study focuses on designing and improving an environment to support learning through informal communication during online academic conferences. Implementing principles from the Community of Inquiry could facilitate such learning. We established two significant outcomes: (1) Even in an environment where the provider of the environment does not set specific learning objectives or assessments, and there is no traditional teacher, reinforcing the teaching presence through inventions such as clearly repeating instructions and having participants check their tasks using self-checklists could increase the sense of cognitive presence. (2) Assigning a preliminary task, including setting participants' own goals and sharing them on the bulletin board, could enhance the sense of cognitive presence. Based on our results, we present a design guideline table that can assist in designing informal learning environments.