International activities in higher education are increasing as faculty prepare students to interact with others from different cultural backgrounds. Although exposure to different cultures is often accomplished through study abroad, there is a need to offer alternative and/or additional experiences that develop increased cultural awareness. This…

A synchronous blend of online learning and "face-to-face" teaching is becoming a feasible instructional approach in higher education with the advent of technology. Although this learning mode is not new in higher education, little research has been done to contextualise social presence experiences in which effects of interactions were…