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