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Software applications in educational technology have been a strong driving force for the success of online learning at all levels. These applications are created for various purposes and are used by a range of experts. The development of a successful educational technology software takes a deliberate team effort and thoughtful project management. This interpretive case study details the processes, successes, and challenges determined throughout the development of an educational web application, the Social Performance Optimization Tool (SPOT). In describing the evolution of SPOT, and the processes the heterogeneous team followed in the development of the web application, this study provides analysis and guidance to educational researchers who are interested in developing educational web applications in the future. The study described how authors mindfully adopted software design models, team management techniques, and communication tools. Additionally, the paper highlights practical and unique implications developers must account for when working in higher education contexts. 

Lack of social presence is one of the many challenges that online education is facing right now in spite of its numerous benefits and growing popularity. While different strategies, primarily behavioral- or cognitive-based, have been proposed and adopted to improve online social presence, affect-based intervention remains a novel approach to increasing learners' experience of connectedness. The Social Performance Optimization Tool (SPOT) is a university-funded, web-based interactive environment in which students interact with classmates through animated dog avatars that reflect their learning performance health and emotional states. This paper reports on an early, exploratory stage of research study wherein the SPOT users' experiences of social presence are explored through interviews. Tu and McIsaac's (2002) framework for social presence was used to analyze three dimensions of social presence: social context, online communication, and interactivity. Findings suggest that the SPOT personalizes the learning environment and helps learners feel more connected.