Facilitating Online Learning Communities
1. Defining Online Communities 2. Elements of Online Environments 3. Facilitator Competence 4. Resources 5. Demonstration of CommunityZero 6. Hands-on use of CommunityZero Agenda
CollaborationCommitment Learning from experience Shared responsibilities Building individual accountability Defining Online Communities: Benefits
Online Course Completion Bonk, C. J. (2002). Online Training in an Online World. Bloomington, IN: CourseShare.com.CourseShare.com
Paraprofessional Online Learning Alone Para eLink
Paraprofessionals Online Learning Alone Together Para eLink
Paraprofessionals Facilitator Facilitated Online Learning Para eLink
Facilitator Paraprofessionals Facilitated Learning Community Para eLink
Elements of Online Environments Communication tools Learning resources User (learner) tools Administrative (facilitator) tools
Communication tools Learning resources User tools Administrative tools Examples include: * * ChatChat Discussion*Discussion* Voice/videoVoice/video NotesNotes PollsPolls Communication Tools
Communication tools Learning resources User tools Administrative tools Examples include: Documents*Documents* AnimationsAnimations Video/audioVideo/audio ProgramsPrograms ImagesImages PEOPLE*PEOPLE* Learning Resources
Communication tools Learning resources User tools Administrative tools Examples include: CalendarCalendar PreferencesPreferences Technical support*Technical support* Directory*Directory* User Tools
Communication tools Learning resources User tools Administrative tools Examples include: Access control*Access control* Site managementSite management SettingsSettings Application sharingApplication sharing Grade bookGrade book Administrative Tools
Forming: Organize and Establish Groups Dr. Curt Bonk, Indiana University Four Fs of Learning Groups Functioning: Manage, Implement, Support, Motivate and Accept Formulating: Understand, Review, and Learn New Strategies Fermenting: Disagreement, Controversy, and Alternative Answers
Facilitator Competency AreasNurture encourage participation & interaction provide content expertise Moderate participate in chat/discussions mediate problems Tech support provide technical help supply additional resources Manage space invite participants administer environment edit discussions facilitate conferences
Provide guidelines Lead community-building activities Provide virtual handholding Encourage sharing resources Facilitating Online Learning : Effective Strategies for Moderators by George Collison, Bonnie Elbaum, Sarah Haavind, Robert Tinker Additional Facilitator Activities
Participants post regularly Member’s needs are met Evident participant-participant collaboration Reasonable venting is acceptable Participants show concern and support for the community Healthy Community Indicators Facilitating Online Learning : Effective Strategies for Moderators by George Collison, Bonnie Elbaum, Sarah Haavind, Robert Tinker
Resources Links from Para eLink
Facilitating Online Learning: Effective Strategies for Moderators by George Collison, Bonnie Elbaum, Sarah Haavind, Robert Tinker Selected Text Resources E-Moderating: The Key to Teaching and Learning Online by Gilly Salmon Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace: Effective Strategies for the Online Classroom by Rena M. Palloff and Keith Pratt