From the Screen, with Love: Enhancing Social Presence through an AI afforded Bichronous Pedagogy

Abstract

This project introduces an AI afforded bichronous pedagogy of care designed to enhance social presence among students in online management education. Grounded in compassion and integrating both synchronous and asynchronous modalities, the approach addresses the engagement gap between online and face to face learning through AI supported team coaching. The method reinforces collaborative learning across developmental milestones, including producing care focused team contracts and completing joint projects. Drawing on an online Organizational Behavior course, the project illustrates how a structured blend of AI coaching prompts, instructor led synchronous check ins, and empathy driven prompt design can strengthen community formation, improve team accountability, and support student well being. The project offers management educators concrete strategies for treating AI as an assistant coach within bichronous course structures to promote inclusive and humanized online learning. It also provides implementation guidance, sample prompts, and lessons learned.