4 stages for developing cognitive presence

In the Vaughan et al (2013) chapter on facilitation, there are references to four distinct steps facilitators can use to develop cognitive presence in a Community of Inquiry; triggering event, exploration, interrogation and resolution.     

1. Triggering event—the initial identification of issues for further inquiry, 

2. Exploration—the investigation of issues collaboratively via critical discourse, 

3. Integration—the construction of meaning based on the idea exchanged in the exploration phase

4. Resolution—the solution to dilemmas or issues by direct or indirect actions.

As you develop your facilitation weeks, pay close attention to how you will explicitly design each of these events. That is, what will be the "triggering event" that you will use to first peak the interest of the learners? This is often a provocative or interesting prompt of some kind. Once you have identified what you want as your triggering event, then decide how you want your learners to explore that event - what framework will you provide for them to explore the issues in the triggering event? After the initial exploration, what will you design for the learners to interrogate the issue deeper and further? Finally, what does resolution look like? You will want to identify how or what the final "product" of the process will be as a way to ensure the learning outcomes you have identified are met.

For more explanation of these 4 steps, you can refer to this article Strategies for Developing Cognitive Presence in Your Online Courses (2021).

Vaughan, N. D., Cleveland-Innes, M., & Garrison, D. R. (2013). Teaching in blended learning environments: Creating and sustaining communities of inquiry. Athabasca University Press. Chapter 3: Facilitation (pp. 45-61).