Community Of Inquiry Framework

This action research study utilizes the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework developed by Garrison, Anderson, and Archer (2000). An educational experience is embedded in a CoI comprised of instructors and students, and this CoI is defined as a “group of individuals who collaboratively engage in purposeful critical discourse and reflection to construct personal meaning and confirm mutual understanding” (Garrison, 2011, p. 2). Within the CoI framework, there are three interdependent elements that promote student engagement and learning, and these elements are cognitive presence, social presence, and teaching presence (Garrison et al., 2000). This framework emphasizes cognitive presence as essential for success in higher education and the need for the CoI participants to “construct meaning through sustained communication” (2000, p. 89). …show more content…
Research indicates that the CoI framework promotes a favorable experience for students in online courses at two-year colleges (Swan, Garrison, & Richardson, 2009; Kupczynski, Mundy, & Ruiz, 2013; Shea & Bidjerano, 2009). Although CoI is effective for online learning, two-year college students are more likely to succeed in hybrid courses utilizing the CoI framework, because face-to-face time is included in the course (Shea & Bidjerano, 2010; Yen & Lui, 2009). Thus, this CoI framework is implemented in a face-to-face course, as the CoI framework is a means to create community and improve learning whether the class setting is online, hybrid, or face-to-face. (Garrison,