Facilitation Reflections

Over the past weeks I have reflected quite a bit on my first online facilitation experience. I chose "Week 9 - Technology," because online and media technology is my area of expertise and interest. I also knew facilitating this topic would help increase my own tech knowledge. Online technology is fluid, constantly changing and updating. It's crucial for educators, both online and on ground, to stay informed through training seminars, conferences and research.

When I signed up for my facilitation week, I had a lot of reservations and fears. Would my mind freeze up when asked questions? Would I remember the important keys to successful facilitation? Can I engage my fellow students effectively? And, what is a good ice breaker? At least that answer came to me in a flash. How about each person sharing their own technology fears. Bravo! Remembering that everyone had fears, helped me calm my own.

But one of my best decisions was to ask a wonderfully tech savvy classmate, Joe Brown, to team up. Ah, collaboration. I had learned the benefit of this online principle during earlier group projects. It helped to have a knowledgeable team mate to explore ideas and assist with the variety of websites, videos, and software demonstrations included in our synchronous session.

Once I designed the first draft of the PowerPoint, I began to breathe easier. Being a bit obsessive, I wanted to get our session content organized so we could talk and practice our facilitation approach. Joe and I used "Skype" for our online meetings. We're both into using online video and I LOVE Skype! We also emailed questions and suggestions back and forth quite a bit.

The week before our facilitation week we began meeting and practicing in the Wimba room. It was time to figure out how to tag team the tech demonstrations and class discussion. Easier said than done. But we came up with an excellent plan. Joe and I divided up the content, and as one person began facilitated their portion, the other readied and then called up the tech/resource website. I was nervous about the technology. It's wonderful when it works, not so much when it doesn't.

It worked out great! Minus a small snafu with holding down the Wimba talk button and typing at the same (couldn't use the lock feature because of audio feedback), the session was energetic and informative. Our fellow classmates had insightful questions and seemed genuinely pleased with our technology content. They even requested that we post the PowerPoint in the course discussion thread so they could review the technology resources we provided.

I have included a link for the Technology PowerPoint from week 9 now resident on Internet Archive.org, another important tech find. Anyone can join Internet Archive and receive their own "virtual library card." You can "Check out" and utilize their online resources for your classes, presentations and research, as well as upload and share your own work if you wish. IA is an excellent online educational resource tool. Just click below and experience it for yourself.

http://www.archive.org/details/TechnologyForOnlineLearningPowerpoint

The asynchronous facilitation potion also went well. Me and my team mate agreed on how to approach the responses to class posts. We remembered to ask good Socratic questions which encourages deeper thinking and alternate points of view, while offering suggestions for incorporating new technologies into online instruction. The sharing of ideas was the best part of the post facilitation since the Wimba session seemed to stir up the group's techie curiosity.

This experience has definitely changed my perspective on facilitation. I better understand how to engage students through deeper questioning. I have acquired "ice breaking" skills which until now I didn't understand their importance to community building and student-student interaction. I feel much more capable and at ease with the prospect of facilitating online discussion boards and Wimba meetings for my students. I look forward to including the discussion post and Wimba tools in my f2f class and ultimately my hybrid course design.

End of Part 2 - Comfort in the Online World

I can’t believe we’re at the end of part two of the second ONTL course. It moves fast and I’m trying to keep up. For all of my technology knowledge, I must run hard to stay on top of the constantly changing web tools. I also realize with time I'll probably rely more on students and online communities for introductions to “new and emerging” technologies. However, I believe soon education will just be education. No online VS f2f. It will become seamless instructional technology used by all, expected by students and mastered by educators. I dream of that day. Maybe by then I’ll be sitting with my laptop on a beach in the Seychelles languidly interacting with my students wherever they are.

Ahhh!!

Until then, I must continue to master Socratic questioning and the five roles of an online instructor. I now understand the importance of being a thoughtful “space planner.” Something I did not totally grasp before this course. Through being an online student I have become a more informed course designer, better understanding their needs. Since I now use the Course Management tools and have to navigate the CMS content, I can observe the design from both sides. A well planned course makes online life more successful for students. It promotes student online communication, interaction and community building. It keeps the course student-centered. This supports retention and learning. It all ties together. I get it!

Ultimately, learning to design in this new pedagogical arena is my objective. Whether I do a hybrid, or a totally online course, I must recognize it’s about the content not the technology. Sometimes this is difficult for a technology loving person like me who’s partial to the latest cool tool and online software. But as long as technology assists students’ in mastering course content, it should be incorporated. It keeps the content interactive and lively and as a student I appreciate this.

I now recognize as the instructor you wear many hats. You are the “Pacesetter,” “the Host,” and “the Connector,” but my personal favorite role is the “Mirror.” I enjoy facilitation much more than I thought. I enjoy providing feedback (in a timely fashion) to students, encouraging, challenging and directing them to alternate points of views. The training I’m receiving by facilitating discussions, forums, and group projects is requiring me to become more adept at this crucial responsibility. I understand the time constraints and accepted facilitation short cuts. I now review posts and interact in several short sessions without wearing myself out with a marathon. I’m less intimidated by the constant posting and group projects. I feel a new sense of comfort with the online world.

Also, to be an excellent facilitator you must comprehend how to reach students with diverse lives and learning styles. Did I say diverse? The importance of diversity, both social and cultural, informs your teaching approach. It helps you reach each person where they are and utilize technology, new and emerging, in ways that are beneficial to student outcomes. Remember, you’re the guide who empowers students to take control of their learning. This is the real lesson.