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What does it take to succeed as an online facilitator? What skills, knowledge and competencies do classroom
instructors need for teaching online?
At first glance, it seems that knowing how to use conferencing software would be the most important requirement. However, this viewpoint overlooks an important question: How do we facilitate the learning process in an online environment?
Having been in the role of an online facilitator myself, I was curious to find out what the "experts" were saying about this issue. Armed with one of my favorite search engine, I ventured into cyberspace and returned with a collection of Web sites.
One thing I discovered from my research is that online facilitation can have different meanings. At some sites, the term meant asynchronous communication such as discussion forums, electronic bulletin boards and e-groups. Online facilitators for electronic bulletin boards and forums act as moderators reviewing contributors' messages offline and posting administrative messages. Online facilitators of synchronous events work in real time often dealing with technical problems while keeping discussion moving in the right direction and at the right pace.
Regardless of the mode of delivery, the online facilitator resources I found seem to focus on three main topics:
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Role of the online facilitator |
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Facilitator qualities and competencies |
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Online facilitation strategies |
Role of the Online Facilitator
Some of the sites I visited compared the role of the online facilitator with the role of a teacher. At the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) Web site, I found this observation:
"Online facilitation changes the role of the teacher...from that of information provider and teacher to that of a coach, an orchestrator of resources and a leader and guide in the learning process."
The Web site of The Center for Online Professional Education at the Education Development Center
(EDC) admits that although online course facilitators and teachers alike play a variety of roles, facilitators using the online medium can divide roles among several people. I think this is certainly the case with conferencing software. Having someone to deal with technical problems behind the scenes allows the facilitator to concentrate on his role as coach, leader or guide.
Online facilitator skills and competencies
What are the skills and competencies of an online facilitator? According to ANTA's Conceptual Model of Influences on Online Teaching and Learning, the competencies required of online facilitators to ensure an effective online learning environment include:
| Instructional - questioning, supporting, leading and pacing, providing explanation and additional resources. Induction programs, the establishment and maintenance of learning communities, group tutorials and individual feedback. |
| Managerial - keeping to the task, agenda, timetable, procedural rules and decision-making norms and tracking student participation. |
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Social - creating a friendly social environment in which a climate for learning is promoted. |
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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.
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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/6454/44222)
"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.trainingbydesign.com/Virtual.htm)
Additional resources:
Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) (http://www.tafe.sa.edu.au/lsrsc/one/natproj/tal/conmodel/facilitation.htm)
Center for Online Professional Education, Education Development Center
(EDC) (http://www2.edc.org/NetTech/facilitating1/FacilitationGuide.html)
Online and Offline Facilitation: What is the Difference?
(http://www.fullcirc.com/community/onvsofflinefac.htm)
Online Collaboration and Interaction Links
(http://www.publicus.net/oc/)
Online Facilitation URLs
(http://www.fullcirc.com/community/cardcatalog.htm)
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