H.O.T. Communication: Honest, Open, & Two-way: Examining the Effectiveness of a Communication Suite in Online Education

Distance education has grown over the past several years due to the integration of technology and its advancements. The flexibility, convenience to the learner, and cost-effectiveness of online learning contributes to this rise in popularity (Boling et al., 2012). Consequently, U.S. colleges and universities are quickly establishing a vast array of distance learning programs and initiatives (Ernest et al., 2013; Jones & Wolf, 2010; Northcote et al., 2015). Communication in these colleges and universities among professors and students is vital, but it is especially critical in an online learning environment where social relationships are formed from the information conveyed by computer-mediated communication (Tu, 2000). Communicating immediacy between the instructor and student, facilitating reflection, and furthering discourse can build rapport while allowing the student to engage with the course content (Tu, 2000; Swan et al., 2008). Further, communication between the professor and the student enhances a sense of belonging, individuality, and intimacy in online learning environments (Boling et al, 2012). Online professors operate in a unique digital space where they provide guidance, instruction, and support to their online students without being in the same place and time. The purpose of this action research study was to explore the perceptions of undergraduate students regarding the strategies that can be used to improve the professor-student communication within the online educational setting. I explored this phenomenon using the theory of transactional distance and the social presence theory. This action research study involved the intervention of a Communication (COMM) Suite along with the participation of undergraduate students who have experienced online learning using both synchronous and asynchronous platforms. I collected data using a Likert scale survey accompanied by individual semi-structured interviews.