In part 2, I discovered Facilitating Roles and all that is entailed! We I am sure it is not all but at least I know more now in comparison to previous.
So many roles of a facilitator to consider: As stated directly from our lesson module;
Week 3: Changing Roles
Week 4: Competencies
Week 5: Pedagogical Role
Week 6: Social Role - Building Community
Week 7: Managerial Role - Setting the Stage
Week 8: The Managerial Role - After the Class Begins
Week 9: Technical Role
Through Discussion Board, Wimba (live or archive), communicating through our class in facilitating online helped me understand more and more as we discussed the roles and how it will effect us as future teachers teaching online (like in my case). Or how we can improve or share our experiences as some in our class may have, and I appreciate listening to an actual experience of a classmate in the role of facilitating online and the pros and cons of certain experiences.
The above list basically brought to my attention the roles of a facilitator and the tools needed to become a prosperous and successful facilitator. Slowly, week by week the roles (units) brought me closer to finding what the roles are and how they will play out for a online facilitator. I did notice that as we delved into the units more, the more I felt it was getting more to the truth of what online teaching entails.
One real eye opening experience was when I read the diary in unit 8. This unit helped me really look at the different roles a facilitator and student play into the course and how much time and work is put into the follow up of the online class on behalf of the facilitator ex; feedback, email, questions, problems, etc....
The first few parts of this unit was something I expected (Week 3: Changing Roles, Week 4: Competencies, Week 5: Pedagogical Role.
What I felt was going to be very difficult yet after taking this couple of weeks by stride now at am ease ( Week 7: Managerial Role - Setting the Stage, Week 8: The Managerial Role - After the Class Begins
Week 9: Technical Role).
The reason for my worries initially with Managerial Role finally put the role I will be taking and the amount of responsibility I will have now that I have reached to this point. I think as someone who has never taught online but has taken courses online with various facilitators can get a feel for what worked for a student and what does not. And what facilitator’s techniques did you like and what you did not. But making them work for me and to insure my students are getting the best out of my course and what I have to offer is a heavy thought, and I hope will achieve it both for the sake of my sanity and my students!
The organization, structure and time that is needed is a no brainer, I feel it will make this smoother and less stressful for both parties (student/facilitator).
I personally enjoyed week 9 the most because it allowed me to see what is out there in terms of staying current. Searching the web for sources for the course on staying current allowed me to see how there is an endless possibility of information in helping the online teacher and the student.
Offered are links or university websites which can help in giving available resources, and join in online communities with the same interests to keep you in the know.
All in all this end of the second blog helped bring me closer to my realization of becoming an online facilitator one step at a time, and I cant wait!!!
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