I Know My Professor: Teacher Self-Disclosure in Online Education and a Mediating Role of Social Presence

ABSTRACT

Acknowledging the importance of teacher–student relationship for effective learning experiences, the present study examined the role of teacher self-disclosure and social presence in online education. An online survey was conducted from a sample of 262 undergraduate students with online class experiences. The findings suggest that students’ perception toward teacher self-disclosure increased students’ feeling of social presence about their teacher. Then, social presence in turn led to teacher–student relationship satisfaction, which ultimately increased perceived knowledge gain. Importantly, the association between teacher self-disclosure and teacher–student relationship satisfaction was mediated by social presence.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Gachon University Research Fund of 2016: [Grant Number GCU-20160081].

Notes on contributors

Hayeon Song

Hayeon Song is an associate professor in the Department of Global Business, College of Business, at Gachon University in South Korea. She has investigated ways to use new media as persuasive vehicle and as information distributor in various settings including education, health communication, and marketing.

Jihyun Kim

Jihyun Kim is an assistant professor in the Nicholson School of Communication at the University of Central Florida, USA. Her primary research interests are focused on effects and implications of new media/communication technologies and a theoretical notion of presence (particularly, social presence) in technology-mediated contexts.

Namkee Park

Namkee Park is an associate professor in the Department of Communication at Yonsei University, South Korea. His research interests include social psychological implications of communication technologies as well as computer-mediated communication (CMC).