Motivation, Emotion, and Community of Inquiry in Online Learning

The Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework serves as a foundational model for understanding the dynamics of online learning environments, enhancing learning outcomes in these learning environments (Martin et al., 2022). CoI centers on three interconnected presences that include social, cognitive, and teaching presences. Each of these presences plays a critical role in shaping learners’ motivation and engagement when considering barriers such as lack of face-to-face interaction and feelings of isolation that can negatively affect learners (Sun & Wang, 2022). While these presences have been at the apex of research on engagement in online environments, little emphasis has been placed on the role of emotion in these presences, particularly in terms of motivating learners. This chapter will emphasize emotion's role in the creation of an engaging community of learners in the online environment. Keywords: Community of Inquiry, Emotion, Emotional Presence