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How to Succeed as an Online Facilitator - Page 2

© Audrey Choden

Managerial - keeping to the task, agenda, timetable, procedural rules and decision-making norms and tracking student participation.

Social - creating a friendly social environment in which a climate for learning is promoted.

Technical - participants need to be comfortable with the system and the software in use.

To me, none of these competencies is any different from the competencies of a classroom instructor. So what's the big deal?

The study went on to show that:

"Facilitators of online learning environments consistently report that greater cognitive effort, a wider range and depth of skills and more time was required for effective facilitation...They also pointed out that an elegantly designed learning environment can fall over and have less impact if the facilitator does not have the range of skills to engage with learners and support them as they develop their own learning systems."

According to the ANTA study, there are several characteristics of the synchronous learning environment that challenge facilitators:

The lack of non-verbal cues. Communication is more open to misinterpretation and feedback requires more thought.

An increased expectation from learners that an instant technology meant instant feedback. Learners were less tolerant of communication delays.

An increase in one-to-one communication. Facilitators need to customize responses to individual inquiries. However, some facilitators establish a bank of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to handle repetitive questions.

More knowledge, thought and effort are put into pacing, leading, questioning, and encouraging.

Online facilitation strategies

What strategies should online facilitators use? Here are some practical tips from an article that appeared on the ASTD Learning Circuits Web site ("Making Synchronous Training a Success"):

Participate before you facilitate.

Be an advocate for the virtual classroom within your organization.

Practice, practice, practice.

Learn the technology.

Keep tuned in to the participants.

Record questions that are asked in the session's chat function.

Use a teaching assistant.

Want to become an effective online facilitator? These are just a few resources that provide relevant information for anyone interested in succeeding as an online facilitator.

Related articles:

Online Facilitation Skills - A trainer's account of her first experience as an online facilitator. Includes a link to The Virtual University Gazette's Guide to Programs that Teach Instructors How to Teach Online. http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/6454...

Welcome to the Virtual Classroom - This article provides an example of the virtual classroom approach, which delivers online learning in real time using computer-based conferencing. http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/trai...

Additional Resources:

Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) http://www.tafe.sa.edu.au/lsrsc/one/natp...

Center for Online Professional Education, Education Development Center (EDC) http://www2.edc.org/NetTech/facilitating... Roles

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