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Presentation on Online Facilitation at the Building Learning Communities Conference, July 2014
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Effective Online Facilitation
Barbara Treacy July 16, 2014
Today’s focus
Identify key questions about online facilitation
Discuss the power of connected learning and online learning communities
Learn about tips and strategies for effective online facilitation
Engage in hands-on collaborative activity to address key facilitation scenarios and challenges
Wrap-up
Key Questions What does it take to be an effective online
facilitator? How do we create engaging, reflective online
discussions that support deeper learning? How do facilitators maintain participation and build strong learning communities? How do facilitators keep discussions on target and focused on the core goals? Why are facilitators important for building
effective online discussions, or are they ? Your questions? Small group discussion
about why you want to learn about online facilitation
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
-Alvin Toffler
What’s Different About Online Discussions?
Content: different structure Technology: increasing choice and capability of
tools (a plus) Technology: accessibility must be addressed;
technical glitches occur regularly (a challenge) Social dynamic: different interaction methods and
pacing to address cohort and individual needs Discussion: new facilitation strategies needed;
importance of written communication Assessment: new tools available and new strategies
needed
Ten Tips for Effective Online Facilitation
http://go.edc.org/tips
1. Make everyone feel welcome and heard; create a comfortable
environment
2. Establish clear goals and expectations
at the outset
http://go.edc.org/discussion
3. Provide behind-the-scenes
support via email
4. Foster communication
between participants
5. Model participation and discussion techniques for participants
6. Keep the discussion alive;
prevent stagnancy
7. Keep the discussion on-
topic
8. Guide participants through the content
9. Make sure the audience and the
content are in sync
10. Bring closure to each topic
before moving on
Key Lessons Online facilitation takes time and care: “building it” is
not enough to expect “they will come” or stay Online learning community models foster reflection and
inquiry based approaches Tone and online voice matter Opportunities for regular feedback are important Technology must support, not overwhelm facilitation Online facilitation requires specific strategies: training
and practice in the online environment are critical!
EdTech Leaders Online Facilitator Course topics: Learning Community Approach to Online PD Skills, Strategies & Techniques for Online
Facilitation Strategies for Assessment, Feedback & Evaluation Preparing to Facilitate a Specific Course Using the Course Management System Instructor
Tools Leading Meaningful Discussions Motivating and Meeting the Needs of Adult
Learners Organizing and Finalizing Your Facilitation Plan
Example with social media incorporated to enhance online community
http://moodle.etlo.org/course/view.php?id=1435
Scenarios – Discuss in Small GroupsLog in: http://moodle.etlo.org Username and password: blc
Facilitating and Implementing Online PDSession 3: http://courses.edtechleaders.org/HTML_cores/trainingcores/opd/opd_s3.htmlScroll to: Discuss
Small groups will work on individual scenarios
Importance of Learning Community Models
“Learning is social, and we willall get better at our projects andat learning from each other by social learning together.In the right context, all of us can be more
innovativethan any one of us.”
-John Seely Brown, USC and Deloitte Center for the Edge
http://www.volacci.com/blog/ben-finklea/2010/december/06/social-media-gains-more-authority-officially-influences-seo
Thank you!
Barbara Treacy btreacy@edc.org EdTech Leaders Online http://edtechleaders.org
Education Development Center http://edc.org
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