The "four pairs os shoes" are instructor, social director, program manager, and technical assistant. These roles frame the facilitation plan for an online instructor. All of these roles are required for an instructor to ensure good student learning. The instructor guides, consults, and is a resource provider. The social director facilitates collaboration within a course. The program manager is the administrator responsible for designing the content and then guiding students through the content. As a technical assistant, the instructor must have proficiency with the Learning Management System in order to duide students through the process.
Dr. Marcia L. Brown, PMP
Aside from the fact that just one pair could 'wear out', we have to address many different needs within the class. There are those rare instances where things run rather smoothly; however, life happens and we have to be ready to keep things in order.
I agree with Marie. I have been facilitating online for more than eight years and never did I feel overwhelmed. For me, there is always an excitement and sense of adventure when a new class starts.
Students have different experience levels, different learning styles, and different needs for assistance to be able to successfully complete their learning objectives and the learning objectives of the course. The "four pairs of shoes" give the facilitator the tools to meet these needs, and to successfully deal with the different learning styles and experience levels.
I think a more interesting way to look at this is what happens if the facilitator does not wear one of the four pairs of shoes. Personally I am stronger in some of the four areas described than others. Let's just take IT as an example. If a student is having a problem that I cannot answer I refer them to the help desk. Although the help desk is imminently skilled at their job, the question arises as to whether or not the student will actually take a second effort to get the answer to their first question, and the facilitator loses one opportunity to help the student achieve success. The same thing applies to any of the other elements. Failure to be good at all four means a larger percentage of student failure.
The facilitator must provide the framework within which the students will learn.
Also, she must be able to motivate the students to participate in communicating within the learning environment and provide feed back that both encourages and cretiques the learners' deliverables.
The facilitator must also be the expert that can be expected to help guide the students in the right direction and provide answers when the students become confused.
Dr. Eileen ,
Great point. It becomes a class of one on one rather than a "class" . I think this generation is also more apt to ask for help than look for it themselves.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Barbara,
Do you have caps in your classes? Thirty-five students is a "large" group for online. Is that typical?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Barbara,
It can also be design and assessment. Many online programs have people who design the framework of the courses.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Alfretta,
Well said, which do you think is your strength? Weakness?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Often times in an online environment, students rely on their instructors to help them in all matters. Even if the school provides other staff to help with certain situations, instructors are the people the students communicate with on a regular basis and so they are the first ones the student will contact with a concern or problem. The instructor must be prepared to guide the student to a successful solution in order to free the student from their concerns so they can concentrtate on learning.
I think that we need to wear all of these hats. In a class where I have 35 students, I am needed in all roles.
Different students have different needs, so it's vital that instructors be able to wear all four pair of shoes:
Instructor. Many times students have no idea where to start and need help understanding where to go for information to complete assignments.
Social director. Students need some type of connection to human beings while they are in their own environment. A chat room or place to connect is important for them.
Technical overseer. Instructors should not be called upon for technical issues, since we have no way of viewing student areas, however, instructors can provide guidance as to where students can get help.
Different students have different needs, so it's vital that instructors be able to wear all four pair of shoes:
Program Personnel-not sure what this role really consists of other, than perhaps grading work.
It is important for online facilitators to wear four pairs of shoes in order to assist and guide students to be successful in the online learning environment. The four pairs of shoes are as follows:
1) Instructor – guides students and provide needed resources in the online environment so that they are part of a learning environment that continues to gain knowledge and improved skill levels
2) Social Director – facilitate collaboration between students so that they become comfortable in discussions and exchanging ideas in the online environment
3) Program Manager – manages the classroom and design classroom content
4) Technical Assistant – work with and assist students with use of technology in the online environment so that they become more comfortable with the use of technology, as well as navigating through the online classroom
Alfretta
Dori,
Which is the most challenging for you?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Dr. Cheryl,
Well said. What is the most difficult for you?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Roy,
Well said! How does technology affect the role of the facilitator?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Tony,
good point. I like that you added creativity to the mix.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
It's important for an online facilitator to wear four "pairs of shoes" in order to keep students engaged, organized, communicating and proficient with the learning environment. In order to achieve these goals, online facilitators need to be instructors, social directors, program managers, and technical support for students.
The instructor must assist students in completing task by providing information, suggest strategies for learning, and assist them with comprehension of the course content. Instructors must have a high degree of interaction and participation withe the students to ensure they maximize their comprehension and understanding. The Instructor must design the content of the course and guide students through the content. In addition, instructors must have proficiency with the technology to guide students through the process.
