RSA # 4 Facilitating Online Learning

 http://dianehoward.com/Rewards_Effective_Facilitation_Online.htm

In my continuous research to develop my professional learning community, I have also been investigating online learning.  In online learning, it is important to have a technology tool to conduct the community and an effective facilitator.  The resource that I have included discusses the importance of a facilitator in an online community, and what role the facilitator should play in the community.    With the rise of e-learners as Palloff and Pratt referred to online learning in their book, “Building Online Learning Communities, it is important to have a good facilitator to help meets the demands of not meeting in a traditional classroom.  In the article, it referred to the facilitators as moderators and not teachers in an online learning community.  I find this interesting based upon my own personal experiences with an online community.  The facilitator was there to answer questions and help with the discussion, but was not really teaching traditionally.  The article, also included some tips for facilitators, which are: In online learning a moderator's postings are "interventions," not "contributions”, and inquiry, not the teacher's information or authority, is at the center of  interactions. 

Howard, D. (2003). Rewards of effective facilitation for online learners. Dr.Diane Howard Publications.   Retrieved from http://dianehoward.com/Rewards_Effective_Facilitation_Online.htm

Palloff, R. & Pratt, K.  (2007). Building Online Learning Communities: Effective Strategies for the Virtual Classroom, (2nd ed.). San Franciso: Jossey-Bass