Title:	AN ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL PRESENCE AWARENESS IN E-COLLABORATION OF POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS
Author(s):	Tshinakaho Relebogile Seaba, Raymond Mompoloki Kekwaletswe
ISBN:	978-972-8939-67-0
Editors:	Piet Kommers and Pedro Isaías
Year:	2012
Edition:	Single
Keywords:	Awareness, Context, Social presence, e-Collaboration, Postgraduate students
Type:	Full Paper
First Page:	107
Last Page:	114
Language:	English
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Paper Abstract:	The reformation of the higher education system in South Africa resulted in the merging of several universities with a large number of students at the postgraduate level. Tshwane University of Technology, like other South African universities has varied learning sites in different geographical locations. Interaction between postgraduate students and their supervisors or subject instructors is often limited and confined to formal spaces and time. This then means that students tend not to have the necessary platform to address their on-demand learning problems or challenges, as they move away from university formal spaces. The limited and inconsistent learning support hinders a smooth learning experience, often leading to delayed or incomplete learning tasks, including research works. The alternative for students is then to seek support from knowledgeable peers, who are often dispersed in varied geographical locations. This paper argued that an e-Collaboration environment may provide the just-in-time learning support needed by postgraduate students. The educational challenges faced by students may be alleviated if a correct platform is provided for them to be able to consult with each other or their instructors. To this point, the paper sought to analyse how awareness of social presence may help address the challenges by facilitating e-Collaboration.
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