George,
You are right! We also the face of the institution and we may not have the answer but we need to know where to find it!!!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The online facilitator must be well-rounded. This is because we will be answering and discussing many issues that involved the course content and also the materials around the course (student issues, technology glitches, policies, etc).
Robert,
I really like the use of mentor as it defines a relationship. I also think students really relate to the real world experience and it helps you define your relationship to them as a mentor. Great post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Students need to regard the facilitator as a mentor. It is important to understand and convey the technology and deliver the real world of the instructor's experience. I have both 5 and 10 week course schedules. On the 10 week lectures I cover the assignment material followed in the next week with a relevant case study. The case study is posted one week before the discussion in the announcement area.
It is also important for students to stay motivated. In the comments I'll frequently end with a note of 'good going' or 'keep up the fine work'.
When lectures are delivered concerning the assignments I post three or more web sources and ask the students to review them before doing their writing. This provides research guidance and further clarification on the assignment topic.
My 5 week course lectures cover the assignment and we try and save time for the case study. I've found that students really enjoy cases (that are real) and emphasize the important considerations of providers and administration.
End of course lectures cover career development and resources. All A grade students can request a personal letter of reference from me. This 'perque' is announced at the start of the course and is another step in motivation.
Tony,
It may be a male female thing. . . shoes or hats!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Tony,
Networking is such an important skill that many of our students lack. It is interesting that you talk about that skill in an online course. It can be done!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Tony,
Great observation. I do think a grader really is just what you say, someone who does the mechanical work. An Evaluator takes that information and makes inferences on the data and provides feedback. Does this make sense to you? I think educators are (and should) be evolving into evaluators rather than just a grader.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I agree. As an online facilitator I do wear many hats. The curriculum in CEE course used the phrase “four pairs of shoesâ€. Is this mean to imply something different than ‘wears four hats’—the later being a more common phrase.
As an online facilitator I wear many hats. This is necessary because online environments introduce a different set of challenges than traditional brick and mortar schools.
When I was a student in a brick-and-mortar school I created my own social networks which helped me maneuver through some of the challenges. The need for social-networking hasn’t gone away in an online environment. We facilitators have to help students network.
Technology strongly impacts an online student’s success. These students have a variety of technology skills. We facilitators have to account for this and ensure technology enhances the educational process rather than hinder it.
A question in this section’s quiz included these two options: “Grader†and “Evaluatorâ€. On the surface they appear to be very similar terms. After thinking about it a bit more, grader implies a set of activities related to assignments. Evaluator implies a broader scope. An online facilitator must evaluate not only the student’s work but the effectiveness of the course materials and instructor styles. What do you think?
Emmanuel,
If we can't do the task then we have to know where students can get answers. We are the face of the university.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Emmanuel,
What do you think about this analogy? Do you agree or disagree?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Stephanie,
We must be all things to our students. Their expectations are enormous and we are equal to the task.
Why do you feel it is important for an online facilitator to wear four "pairs of shoes"?
According to MaxKnowledge, an online facilitator is first and foremost and instructor, he/she impacts knowledge to students. Secondly, an online facilitator is a grader, evaluator, a mentor and counselor who the students look up to as a role model. More to the above mentioned, the online facilitator role is as organization, providing feedback to students and telling students what to do in order for them to do better with their studies.
Kimberley,
You are right, you are the face of the institution and the face of learning as you are the expert. That is a tall order but you are available offering the best you can offer and that goes a long way.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Denise,
You have to do that! It is so important to give that feedback both positive and constructive. That is how students make their adjustments in learning. Timing is everything!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
It is important for an online facilitator to wear four "pairs of shoes" because you have to be a well rounded facilitator so that you can try to meet all the needs of your students. When you were these "pair of shoes" you provide holistic instructions and facilitation for your students. You are able to give them the best guidance so that they can do well in your course.
The roles of an online facilitator are many. They have to have several "hats" , like stated with "shoes". The roles must include communicator, guidance, grader, and feedback. It is important to be a good communicator. You have to have timely communication to the student. It is important to provide guidance to the student and how they should get to their best success. You have to grade assignments and give good feedback on how the student is doing.
Berrie,
Love your post!!!! It can be overwhelming when you are the only contact/help the student has problems. I don't think we always as this from our f2f instructors.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The roles of an online facilitator is blurred. On the one hand, you want to help them understand the topic at hand and share your knowledge. But the environment is not necessarily conducive to that. On the other hand, you are a hand holder and have to figure out if the multitude of excuses are real or imagined as to why they are not submitting their assignments. On the left foot, you are bound by participation criteria that can become cumbersome as you increase the number of classes and students you have to interact with. On the right foot, the sheer number of assignments that you have to touch and grade per week is very intimidating. Then let's not throw in the personal growth you have to maintain, especially if you are credentialed and have to maintain that credential annually. Then the juggling really starts when you add faculty meetings and other non-teaching administrative demands. Keep juggling, oops you dropped one....Better luck next week!
