Steven ,
What other roles does the facilitator? What do you mean by control?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The facilitator is in control of the program. It is under his or her guidance as to whether the course has purpose and proper direction. The four guidelines helped the instructor with the overall goal at that is an excellent student learning experience.
Brenda,
You do have an interesting perspective since you have completed two degrees online! I agree with you that there is no replacement for nonverbal, but there are techniques that can be used, reflective questions are a great tool for this. Good insight!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
This is an interesting question that is posed. I have completed two degrees online. The non-verbals will never be communicated. However, I do believe that reflective questions give an indication of a person's thinking process. Some of what one thinks can help to determine the perception that one might have of the non-verbal that goes with that reflection. Still, it is not a face-to-face interaction with those non-verbals. Being a psychiatric nurse for a number of years, that element is really important in the total communication process.
Brenda,
Great point, Multi-tasking seems to be the skill of the present and future. How do you read between the lines for the non verbal communication.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
In the online format/environment, facilitating the class takes more effort to be effective. This is because there is a missing element. That element is the non-verbal communication. Because that is missing, the student will need to have a facilitator that is able to communicate in a manner that is without that non-verbal element. Thus, the social dimension, the IT participation, evaluator, and communicator. Multi-tasking at its finest.
Brenda
Lauren,
Great answer, the social director is a different look at a educator's role isn't it. How does that role compare to the face to face course?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
It is important for online facilitators wear four "pairs of shoes" because the each student's needs are different and these four roles will help ensure a high percentage of success for all of the students. All students need an instructor to help guide them through the course. The instructor lets them know what is expected of them and whether they have met those expectations. Some students will not have a problem responding to discussion boards and postings and participating in chats. But, some quiet students need a social director. Someone who can help them communicate, express their feelings and open communication channels with other students. All students need a program manager, who is behind the scenes setting up the online class experience. Ensuring that the students can access the information they need, and have the appropriate assignments to help them meet the course objectives and criteria. Last, some students may need the technical assistant. When something goes wrong on their portal or their system. Someone who can talk them through the necessary fixes or explain to them the correct processes. So all shoes are needed at different times and with different students to ensure their success.
Lanny,
Great answer, which role to you feel more comfortable in performing?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The role of an Online Facilitator is much different than that of an assembly line worker whose tasks (usually) are more narrow in scope and function.
An Online Facilitator has at least 4 major roles and needs to apply them equally to be successful. Each student has different needs and the Facilitator must recognize these needs and provide the student with the necessary tools and working environment to give them the opportunity for success.
As stated in the course the 4 major roles the facilitator has are:
1. Instructor
2. Social Director
3. Program Manager or Administrator
4. Technical Assistant
While not every student requires the need for all four of these roles, the Facilitator must hone his/her skills in each of these areas to help ensure that all students are engaged and thrive in the online environment.
Shannon,
You are so right! Timely feedback benefits everyone! You don't get all the emails and students get the information they need to adjust their learning.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Kimberly,
True, you are the important piece in the online puzzle. You can also create students to assume some of the facilitation role.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The four roles that are mentioned are facilitator, social director, program director, and evaluator. Online facilitators take on each of these roles in order to effectively manage the classroom, but also to provide an experience similar to the usual classroom. Because students are not generally able to do this, it is important that the online faciliatator contribute to this experience by fulfilling each of these four roles. Additionally, in the on ground classroom, students are able to get immediate feedback and answers to their questions. This is why it is important that online facilitators provide timely feedback.
It is important to play multiple roles as any instructor. Management and guidance are two imporatnt roles. On line the instructor is the only facilitator in the classroom. There are no other faculty that stop by or drop in to say hi.
Mary,
Yes, so many times the educator is the one constant in their lives.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Faryl,
That tells me that you have developed good communication channels with your students.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Richard,
Distance is used like online course
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
We must be there for the students in all capacitities. I think we often wear more pairs of shoes and so many different hats that we can take on anything.
I agree with the majority of the posts so far. We are teachers, IT assistants, course managers, and course writers. I would add that we inadvertently end up being a counselor to the students as well. So many students require us to hear about their personal issues because they affect their classwork.
I don't really understand what you mean by a distance course?
