How to Succeed as an Online Facilitator
What does it take to succeed as an online facilitator? What skills, knowledge and competencies do classroom instuctors need for teaching online?
At first glance, it seems that knowing how to use conferencing software would be the most important requirement. However, this viewpoint overlooks an important question: How do we facilitate the learning process in an online environment?
Having been in the role of an online facilitator myself, I was curious to find out what the "experts" were saying about this issue. Armed with one of my favorite search engine, I ventured into cyberspace and returned with a collection of Web sites.
One thing I discovered from my research is that online facilitation can have different meanings. At some sites, the term meant asynchronous communication such as discussion forums, electronic bulletin boards and e-groups. Online facilitators for electronic bulletin boards and forums act as moderators reviewing contributors' messages offline and posting administrative messages. Online facilitators of synchronous events work in real time often dealing with technical problems while keeping discussion moving in the right direction and at the right pace.
Regardless of the mode of delivery, the online facilitator resources I found seem to focus on three main topics:
Role of the Online Facilitator
Some of the sites I visited compared the role of the online facilitator with the role of a teacher. At the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) Web site, I found this observation: "Online facilitation changes the role of the teacher...from that of information provider and teacher to that of a coach, an orchestrator of resources and a leader and guide in the learning process."
The Web site of The Center for Online Professional Education at the Education Development Center (EDC) admits that although online course facilitators and teachers alike play a variety of roles, facilitators using the online medium can divide roles among several people. I think this is certainly the case with conferencing software. Having someone to deal with technical problems behind the scenes allows the facilitator to concentrate on his role as coach, leader or guide.
Online facilitator skills and competencies
What are the skills and competencies of an online facilitator? According to ANTA's Conceptual Model of Influences on Online Teaching and Learning, the competencies required of online facilitators to ensure an effective online learning environment include:
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