Facilitation of learning is an essential component for a successful and enriched learning environment (Garrison, ET.ALL, 2001). Facilitation can offer a well rounded approach to learning which encourages the students to enjoy learning and be involved with lifelong education. The strategies I selected for the Info Graph help guide the classroom through facilitation, while incorporating the COI framework. I feel that each strategy is meaningful and can be applied to help optimize and enhance communication and discussion. Using my experience in the classroom, from both a learner and instructor lens, as well as polling a few colleagues – I feel the strategies or “tips” can benefit a synchronous, asynchronous or blended environment. The classroom environment can be adapted and tailored based on the needs of the institute, faculty and students. Using Bull’s “ Eight Roles of an Effective Online Teacher” (2013) is a fantastic point of reference as it provides a template that can be adapted and reconfigured with each student, class and semester.
Using strategies is a great way to begin the art of facilitation, regardless of the classroom environment, as facilitation is about gaining knowledge and passing it on. Applying these to a teaching presence, social presence and cognitive presence provides a strong, impactful educational experience for the student and growth for the instructor. “In the act of facilitation learners connect to each other and the instructor, engage with the content, are cognitively present as intellectual agents, and carry out all actions central to the development and maintenance of the learning community” (Garrison, et. all., 2001). Drawing from some conversations in Mattermost, I feel that a good teacher is a facilitator, but not all teachers facilitate and not all facilitators teach. The world of education requires the participants to follow down a path of lifelong learning, why not bring the student on the learning journey? Creating a strategy and being involved in the learner’s experience could breed a positive, constructive, social, respectful environment and one that both instructor and student feel successful and satisfied.
To view larger image: COI Inforgraph
References:
Bull, B. (2013). Eight Role of an Effective Online Teacher. Faulty Focus.
Garrison, D.R., Anderson, T., & Archer. W. (2001). Critical Thinking, Cognitive Presence, and Computer Conferencing in Distance Education. American Journal of Distance Education.
September 16, 2020 at 11:57 am
Hi Kerry,
Thank you for providing such an excellent perspective on the Community of Inquiry and I totally agree that Bull’s Eight Roles of an Effective Online Teacher is a great anchor to base your teaching upon.
As I was studying your infographic I really keyed on how you carefully outlined each facet of being a good facilitator. I certainly can attest to the effectiveness of the “Informed Monitorization” heading as I use this in the delivery of my own courses through informal personal check-in moments. This not only motivate learners but also reduces anxiety by assuring them that their progression is on track to a successful result.
I like how the Cognitive Presence includes empathetic design elements by adopting the learner’s perspective when viewing the course material and the provision of multiple access options. It is all too easy to assume we all share a common norm for access to and availability of technology.
As you note at the end of your graphic, there is a similarity between a facilitator and a teacher but it is my feeling that a facilitator is more focused on student success vs a teacher which is often only focused on being a subject matter expert. Your closing statement regarding bringing the student along the learning journey gives me hope that the teacher will soon adopt the positives associated with being a facilitator.
Kind regards,
Owen Lloyd
September 22, 2020 at 11:05 am
Hi Owen,
Thank you for taking the time to look through my Infograph – now that I have taken the time and looked through my fellow classmates, I see it is quite wordy when it should be more focused on telling the story through images. I love that you share the same outlook regarding Bull’s roles to “anchor” the teaching approach. I am starting to use it more and more in the classroom, which is a little more work for me, but yielding positive results from the students. I like how you look at “informed monitorization”, it is not just the instructor saying “Hey, I’m watching you” – it is to lend a hand and assure the students they are on the right path. I am glad this is how it was interpreted as I didn’t want it to be a more disciplinarian method.
Agreed, some people still go to the library to access computers and the internet and I think it is easy to forget that. There are times where I will post a link and students don’t have Adobe flash, so they can’t access it. I agree with what you are saying regarding the difference between a facilitator and a teacher and I can only hope we start seeing more of the facilitation role brought into a classroom environment – I know this style works for me as a learner. I understand it is a little more work to facilitate, but I do feel it is worth it in the long run. We can always learn and grow from experiences and from sharing in a classroom setting.
Thank you for your thoughtful comments, I really appreciate it.
Kindest regards,
Kerry