Center for Innovations in Technology


	Introduction

	Pedagogical Aspects
	>Instructor as Facilitator
	>Instructor Visibility
	>Feedback
	>Online Materials

	Social Aspects

	Managerial Aspects
	>Organizational
	>Procedural
	>Administrative

	Technical Aspects

Instructor as Facilitator

In online teaching the role of the teacher is transformed from a transmitter to a facilitator, collaborator or moderator. A partnership between the professor and student in working together to achieve the course objectives. The following are some suggestions for both faculty and their graduate assistants who may be responsible for facilitating online discussions:

Tips:

Use friendly feedback

Appreciate learners' personal experiences

Become a partner in building the learning process

Consider using your first name to foster a learning partnership

Flamers are individuals who direct hostile personal attacks toward others in the group.

The role of the Facilitator:

The primary role of the instructor in online teaching is to create a learning environment that motivates the students to construct meaningful knowledge through interactions with each other as well as with their instructor. The instructor and the student should engage in an active dialog.

Online instructors should avoid an authoritative style especially when working with adult learners. An authoritative style can easily be misinterpreted in an online environment as uncaring or brusque.

It is the responsibility of the professor to build an understanding of a conversational discussion model and to move students away from a confrontational debate style that could lead to flaming. To do so, the instructor should encourage students to remain focused on subject of a particular line of discussion.

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Center for Innovations in Technology for Learning
Scott Quad 021 Athens, Ohio 45701
Tel: 740.597.2702 Fax 740.597.2707 Email:citl@ohio.edu
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