Teacher's presence mediated by virtual learning environment interfaces: evidences of the Self

This is part of a qualitative research to study the metacommunication practiced by teachers who deliver education through virtual learning environments (VLE). We are interested on traces or signs of expression, presence and representation of he teachers' selves as end-user developers of the interfaces they customize for their classes. For that, we chose Moodle as the environment to conduct this work and counted with he voluntary participation of nine teachers, all with different profiles concerning to the field of work and the educational model. Instead of observing these teachers on the construction of interfaces, we adopted a different approach by interviewing them and collecting their own impressions about he way they communicate through the VLE. It has been found that teachers practice self-expression and representation through VLE in three different ways: expression through written language, interface customization and through the content. These aspects are discussed and some points concerning to training and methodologies are raised.