Tips for Effective Online Facilitation

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Tips for Effective Online Facilitation

• Presented by
• Harry Belch

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Create a Friendly, Approachable Atmosphere

• Send an email to everyone before course starts
  establishing a warm environment
• Dont use technical terms (unless you are
  teaching an advanced technical course)
• Be conversational when addressing your
  participants
• Create a relaxed classroom feeling

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Example 1 Portion of Email sent to
participants Welcome everyone to Using
Technology to Support the Writing Process!
Whether this is your first foray into Online
Professional Development or youre an ol pro at
it, I hope you find this course informative,
enjoyable, and stimulating. Please feel free to
jump right into the discussions, because youll
find that is the crux of the course.
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Example 2 Portion of Email sent to
participants Another room in which you'll spend
a lot of time is the "Discussion Board." To
enter, just click the Discussion Board link. This
is where you'll be able to conduct professional
conversations with your colleagues. Think of it
as your professional "coffee shop," or "pub" if
you prefer!
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Participate With the Class

• Model for them, but be one of them
• Show enthusiasm for points well made
• Learn right along with them
• Refer to specifics in the materials they need to
  read and in their posts
• Be the facilitator, not the know it all. Allow
  others to be the expert
• And of course, provide leading questions when
  appropriate

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Example Discussion Board Post and Reply From
Participant I agree! I loved the things Mr.
Nellen described, but couldn't implement all that
right away. Nancy Patterson's projects seem more
possible for me right now.Mr. Nellen's
editorials caught my eye. Something like that
would fit beautifully with the 8th grade SOLs. I
could see an editorial project done in the way
Nancy Patterson described...with hyperlinks
telling a little more about various things in the
students' editorials. From Facilitator
(Me) Indeed, even Nellen admits that he spends
more time now than he used to when he wasn't
using technology. It's also important to keep in
mind that Nellen has been working on this for 20
some years.But, realistically, what aspects of
Nellen's approach could be used in your classroom
this coming year?
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Provide Personalized Feedback

• Encourage participants who fall behind to catch
  up and offer your assistance
• Be sympathetic to their concerns and offer
  solutions
• Let participants know that you are willing to go
  the extra mile to help them succeed
• Provide interim reports so they know their status
  in the course

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Example 1 Interim Report Hello (Name),   I
hope youre enjoying our Using Technology to
Support the Writing Process course!  At this
point, each participant should have at least 2
posts per session and have completed the
Participant Survey.  Below is what I have for you
so far   Participant Survey 
Complete   (Name), the quantity of your posts has
only been exceeded by the quality of your posts! 
Your insights and comments are always very
thought provoking and helpful.  Keep up the
wonderful work!   Cheers,
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Example 2 Interim Report Hello (Name),   I
hope youre enjoying our Using Technology to
Support the Writing Process course!  At this
point, each participant should have at least 2
posts per session and have completed the
Participant Survey.  Below is what I have for you
so far   Participant Survey Not
Completed (Name), I know youve been having some
problems with your computer, so let me know if I
can help.  Try to get caught up with your posts
and take the Participant Survey this week, if
possible.  If you need some time I certainly
understand, just let me know.    Cheers,
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Maintain Eye Contact in the Online Environment

• Always address participants by name
• Refer to specifics in their comments (current and
  previous)
• Mention details contained in assignments
• Respond quickly to emails even if you dont have
  an answer yet
• If exciting personal information is exchanged
  (favorite team, college attended, pending birth,
  marriage, retirement, etc.), acknowledge it when
  appropriate (Congratulations on your pending
  birth!, Your team looked real good Saturday!)

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Create Opportunities for Success

• Keep participants apprised of the objectives and
  outcomes
• Provide participants with guidelines to meet
  objectives and outcomes
• Give participants a heads up for upcoming
  assignments

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Example Announcement for Session 3 of 6 . . .
In this session, we will read an article about an
online mentoring project where a group of
teachers developed an electronic writers'
workshop that enabled young authors from
different schools to work with professional
writers and each other. We will also explore a
selection of online writing tutorials designed to
support student writing and revising. As you
delve into this session, start thinking about
your final project. Your final project will be a
lesson plan that incorporates something you
learned during this course. You might consider
Inspiration from Session 2 or one of the sites
you will visit in this session. Cheers,
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In Closing, here is an exchange I had with a
participant who I think summarizes very well
successful online professional development from
both the facilitator and participant view
point Facilitator (Me) Hi (Name),   Your posts
are very "real world" and I appreciate that.  You
are able to capture what I imagine to be the
thoughts of many teachers, whether they're
competing with faulty computers or fire drills
like you posted in Session 1, or dealing with
keeping up with others such as your Blackboard
post in Session 3 (not to mention bemoaning
Redskins losses - we won last week!!!).  Thanks
for "keeping it real" as the students might say!  
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Participants Reply Thanks for such a positive
note... you are the only instructor that has
emailed me your thoughts about my progress in the
course.  As you have noticed, I take the on-line
course very seriously.  Sometimes, I tend to
ramble or repeat myself, but like to express my
ideas and opinions.  I feel that some people
don't take the time to respond appropriately on
the on-line courses-- but my opinion is 'you get
what you put into it.'  Thanks again,
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In Summation, the Key to Successful Online
Facilitation

• You Get What You Put Into It
• So be sure to
• Create a friendly, approachable atmosphere
• Participate with the class
• Provide personalized feedback
• Maintain eye contact in the online environment
• Create Opportunities for Success
• If you, the facilitator, follow these tenets,
  your participants are sure to follow.