Examining the Distance Education Students’ Social Presence Level in Relation Demographic Variables at Synchronous Virtual Classroom

In this study the level of social presence of learner who are studying in various program through synchronous virtual classroom is examined in terms of gender, age, program, profession, duration of study and reasons for preference distance education. The sample of the study is composed of 310 students at Atatürk University Distance Education and Research Center. Social presence scale to measure the level of social presence and form to identify students’ demographic data are used for collecting data. The data collection tool was used presented on Internet to fill from students after the virtual clasroom sessions. Descriptive and predictive statistical methods were used in the analysis of the data. According to the findings, it was determined that the distance education students were above the average of social presence level in synchronous virtual classroom. Moreover, while the gender variable doesn’t have a statistically significant effect on social presence, the level of social presence differs in terms of variables such as age, education program, occupation group studied and how long (years) it is studied