http://www.flickr.com/photos/82312837@N00/466722575 Turning The Page : Ten Steps of Successful Online Facilitation For Teachers Image : http://www.flickr.com/photos/82312837@N00/466722575 Alexander Hayes 2008 http://www.alexanderhayes.com

To ensure teachers have opportunity to develop online facilitation skills an organisation must may could will provide;

Opportunity for teachers to discuss and debate what constitutes ‘facilitation’ as opposed to other terms / descriptors for online teaching 1

Workshops for teachers that explore the skills, knowledge & pedagogies underpinning successful online facilitation using online technologies 2

Online activities that require teachers to investigate, research and report on their findings in a collaborative and constructive face-to-face & online location 3

Examples of successful online facilitation including case studies and recordings of teachers actively using online tools with students 4

Access to literature and online material from a wide and varied range of sources pertinent to online facilitation 5

Networking opportunities for teachers to attend that support their contact with experienced online facilitators 6

Showcasing opportunities for teachers to speak of their experiences and findings from an experiential perspective 7

Professional Development activities that extend teachers knowledge into areas of the curriculum yet un-chartered for online learning 8

Mentorship programs that support teachers who are new to online facilitation with ‘time-out’ from core duties to engage with mentors 9

Guidelines & protocols developed collaboratively with the interests of all key stakeholders in the teaching & learning process 10

General Tips Assume good intent . Remind others of this simple trick. Role model the behavior you wish others to use. Practice and encourage active listening/reading. Be explicit as possible in your communication. Don't automatically assume understanding -- ask for clarification as needed. Build trust by doing what you say you will do. Encourage others to do the same. Encourage an environment that values trust. Trust is slow to be granted, easily taken away. Use irony and humor with care as it does not always come across online as you might have intended. You can always use emoticons to clarify! ;-) Think before you hit the button and a post goes up. Approach every contribution with curiosity , expecting surprise and wonder Adaption of http://www.fullcirc.com/community/facilitips.htm

General Tips

Assume good intent . Remind others of this simple trick.

Role model the behavior you wish others to use.

Practice and encourage active listening/reading.

Be explicit as possible in your communication.

Don't automatically assume understanding -- ask for clarification as needed.

Build trust by doing what you say you will do. Encourage others to do the same.

Encourage an environment that values trust. Trust is slow to be granted, easily taken away.

Use irony and humor with care as it does not always come across online as you might have intended. You can always use emoticons to clarify! ;-)

Think before you hit the button and a post goes up.

Approach every contribution with curiosity , expecting surprise and wonder

Further Reading & Resources Online Facilitation Wikispaces - Nancy White Effective Online Facilitation - Australian Flexible Learning Framework Facilitating Deep Learning in the Adult Online Learner - Educause Facilitating Online learning Communities – Wikieducator Teaching Online - Deakin University Developing Community Guidelines - NSW LearnScope Online Facilitation - Nancy White Supporting Online Teaching & Learning - Michael Coghlan

Further Reading & Resources

Online Facilitation Wikispaces - Nancy White

Effective Online Facilitation - Australian Flexible Learning Framework

Facilitating Deep Learning in the Adult Online Learner - Educause

Facilitating Online learning Communities – Wikieducator

Teaching Online - Deakin University

Developing Community Guidelines - NSW LearnScope

Online Facilitation - Nancy White

Supporting Online Teaching & Learning - Michael Coghlan