Get Your Students Hired
To be a facilitator, social director, program director, and evacuation of each student.
Yes, the instructor must fill the roles of facilitator, social director, program director, and evaluater. I think the biggest part of this is communication. Timely communication is very important to the students in the online environment because, without a quick response, the student will be in a sense put on hold. I make a point to check my e-mail more than once a day to see if there are any messages from students.
1) The instructor has to wear many hats in order to be an effective on-line facilitator. Social director, program manager, and technical assistant; all are the strengths that are needed to ensure students will be able to complete assignments.
An online facilitator must integrate all four roles to meet the needs of everyone involved in the online course. Without all four roles integrated the course would create major problems for both the instructor and the students.
In the instructor role, one needs to be the instructor by making sure the online course is effective so that students can achieve the learning outcomes and communicate information to help students successfully complete the tasks assigned. In the social director role, one needs to make sure that there is interaction and participation among the members of the course. In the program manager role, one must be responsible for the course itself by designing the content and guiding the students through the course. Finally in the technical assistant role, the instructor needs to be proficient with the technology in order to assist students. Being proficient in technology will also allow the instructor to use a variety of technology that will meet the needs of the students and enhance the learning process.
I believe it takes 4 "pairs of shoes" because the instructor is the subject expert, serves as a computer tech sometimes, course designer and instructor. Each of these areas are very important to the success of an online course and the online learner.
I have found that many students will ask me regarding technical issues, how to do things on the computer like uploading, etc thus we do need to know quite a bit about technology. Next, we need to design how the course is to be delivered, synchronous, asynchronous or a combination, to meet the needs and demands of the online learner. Then you need to be able to delivery the material that you are the expert of, in a way that the student understands and comprehends...reading, examples/illustrations, video clips, etc.
At times it can be, yes. However, for the most part I enjoy the challenge and excitement of trying different venues of learning.
Thanks,
John F.
Because,as a facilitator, needs to evaluate student learning to determine if learning occured and if the academic , social, and pragmatic needs of the learner were met.
As an online instructor, a person must be the facilitator, social director, program director, and evaluator. In order to do this effectively, a person must be able to multi-task and be sensitive to the communications from the class. This can be difficult in an on-line environment, which restricts communication to mostly written words on a discussion board. In classes I have been a part of, good instructors used chat rooms, conference calls and separate emails to facilitate communication and foster conversations. Instructors must avail themselves of all technology available to assist with the classroom communications
The instructor must wear different shoes to make the learning experience comprehensive and rich. It is important to not only know how to teach the content but to also teach outside of the content and this includes interpersonal communications, constructive feedback, motivation etc.
Well said, but don't you think a good educator also does this in a face to face course?
A good facilitator has to be able to multi-task all the objectives and course content that is required of them. It's not that we want to change hats but we must in order for the students and facilitators to learn and grow in knowledge.
An instructor has to be all things to the online student. Good communication is important for the student to feel he is in an active environment. I want the students to feel they are in school and not sitting at a computer in their home and surrounded by other distractions. The instructor needs to be the main resource when additional information or technical assistance is needed.
An instructor needs to monitor forum discussions as he would over hear a conversation to ensure there is a correct understanding of the information and provide feedback. An instructor should provide things to do besides read text like frequent quizzes that go along with the material they read or use study guides.etc.
I think that the students feel more comfortable talking to an instructor face to face. In the online world, the students do not physically see the facilitators and in my experience they are more hesitant to approach the facilitator in this manner.