My role as a Facilitator
I typically think of myself as a guide in the learning process. For my subject, whether I am teaching in a physical classroom or online, the role of facilitator allow me to use me expertise and enthusiasm for a subject to help draw out critical analysis of the subject and a greater interaction with students. The greater interaction helps me "lead" students to a deeper understanding and appreciation for the subject.
Nancy,
I love your post. Yes, the mind is the most important tool we use. (BTW, I am using that statement). You may want to try having the students taking a lead in a discussion and you monitor their discussion. It does work!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Dr. Wilkinson,
I find these posts to be so accurate in describing the online classroom. Not only our role as facilitator, but what the student brings to the class. I always look for a new perspective from the student. I try to stimulate them in participating in the discussions from a different viewpoint. I am amazed at what a fresh mind will energize the same content. Total interaction by using all tools available, and the most important is the mind.
Stephanie,
I agree and students love to hear that. We learn so much from them. It is a great life lesson for them when they "get" the idea that learning from others is a professional skill! Great post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Loretta,
I feel the same way. While I try to treat my role as a facilitator in a more formal way, I also like to work to communicate with my students how much I learn from them just as they are learning from me!
Loretta,
Nice post! We do have so much to learn from our students. I have had students to "teach" a concept, yes online. I have students record a lesson on their phone and send it to me and I will post it. It is amazing what students can do!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
As students learn from me, I am eager to learn from my students. I believe my role as a facilitator affords me the opportunity to successfully guide students to achieving their scholastic goals. Also, students can capture some effective tools for working in their work environment. Providing my expertise in the subject matter is significant to students comprehending the relevance for the content matter. In addition, providing students guidance with important aspects of the classroom (i.e., reviewing weekly Roadmaps, daily announcements, or emails) allows students to familiarize themselves navigating throughout the classroom.
Debra,
Yes, I am going through that now at the end of the semester! You have to stick to your "guns" regarding course expectations it is easy to cut them slack for their shortcomings! Good post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Dennis,
You are right, really we should know everything! It can be a challenge.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Augustine, I completely understand your feelings. I struggle with trying to engage students who seem to have checked out of the class. It is frustrating when you put so much into the class and add extra office hours and chats, provide examples and references for their course work, and exhaust all of your resoruces to help students engage in their learning and find that for whatever reason do not submit any work. In the last week of class beg you to help them and then blame you for their unsuccessful experience. It can be frustrating.
Kelly
Good question and at times it seems students consider us as tech support.
While I am pretty knowledgeable on technical matters there are others, for example, when part of the web site does not allow them access to a function when I have to refer them to the "real" tech support.
Cheers, Dennis
Cathleen,
I am going to use your term, "learned helplessness". That is the perfect term for our students.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
ANTHONY,
What about technology expert? Is that part of your role.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Augustine,
Wow, I love your post. Yes it is fun and can be achieved. It is sometimes like pulling teeth and I would rather it not be mine :)
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Augustine,
True, part of the learning process is to take initiative regarding learning. I wish all my students would understand that!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I agree. I find that one of the most difficult things for my students to overcome is their lack of self confidence, and this often leads to learned helplessness.
I view my role in the online classroom in several important dimensions:
1) content expert - students look to the instructor to be fully and technically informed.
2)advisor - monitoring and directing the class activity
3) evaluator - provide assessment and feedback on each student's progress.
Anthony J Matias
In an online environment, being a facilitator is fun and intellectually stimulating when you have a class full of students ready and eager to learn. The enthusiasm, the robustness of the discussions, and camaraderie developed by students, often takes the learning process to a higher level. However, in a class where you have only a handful of students willing to engage and learn and others waiting to be told what to do, facilitating such class is almost nerve wrecking.
I agree with you Dr. Wilkinson, in today's ever changing work environment, our job as facilitators is to challenge students to come out of their comfort zones, take initiative in their learning process, and challenge themselves intellectually with or without instructor's assistance.
Todd,
What a great post! it is nice to be more of a facilitator than the talking head. It also develops individualized learning with each student.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
