Changing Roles in the Online World

As a traditional instructor and a lover of face to face interaction, I was skeptical when I started the ONTL certificate program. It wasn't that I didn't believe online technology tools weren't valuable in education, because I do. It wasn't that I didn't love the web world, because I do. And it certainly isn't because I'm intimidated or wary of technology, because I'm not. Technology has been a part of my professional life for a long time. So, what is it? It’s the loneliness of always being in the print, text, surfing world. So, this brings me to the importance of embracing and understanding your changing role as an online instructor.

In order to be effective online you must release some of the preconceived notions of the f2f world. There are unique skills educators must gain to give online students a well organized and executed learning experience. One of the most important is learning to be an online facilitator of your students learning. Being responsive to discussion posts and Socratic in your questioning are critical to developing your online pedagogical skills. I didn't fully understand this until now.

As a F2F "sage" I could shoot from the hip and engage in witty banter often with little forthought or planning. Not so in my new online world. Clear and precise planning, online content management, site organization, constructive feedback posts, mediating difficult student-student exchanges without the ability to use facial expressions, :( these are the new skills I need! Community building at its best. Yes, changing roles, familiar yet new. And then, there's HTML:

I can do this! (I wrote that line with HTML code...really.)

As I move forward in the course, I will become more comfortable with my new role and online environment. It's a little intimidating at times, but also quite exciting.

Me? An Online facilitator!

Winter is in full swing and class #2 of the Online Certificate Program has begun.
ONTL 651: Facilitating an Online Course. But what exactly does facilitating an online course entail? As a traditionally trained instructor and a media producer by training, I’m a bit concerned about my online facilitation skills. But I’m ready to learn.

As an educator, I guess I could be called a "sage on the stage," but I desperately want to become an excellent "guide on the side.” I believe the ability to guide and empower students in their education would be desirable for either class environment and benefit all teaching styles.

I enjoy the exchange of energy and ideas in the classroom setting. It’s quite an adjustment to communicate through print discussion boards and audio chats with my ONTL classmates and one day my students. But this program is an excellent way for me to begin embracing this new education interaction process.

The class articles about online facilitation have been reassuring. They prove that I currently posses some of the skills necessary to become an effective online facilitator.
I project a strong personality, I’m organized, I love engaging students and try to be sensitive to their needs and I have more than 25 years of experience in my field of expertise (media production).

I have signed up to facilitate week 9 which covers online technology. Technology is one of my main areas of interest. In class one, the educational applications of technologies such as blogs, wikis, podcasts and videos were exciting to explore. So, I look forward to learning how to properly facilitate this online session and one day, my own online or hybrid course.