Online Facilitator
What is an online facilitator?
An online facilitator is a crucial figure in the elearning landscape. They guide students through their online learning journey, ensuring the content is engaging, interactive, and practical. Unlike traditional instructors, online facilitators leverage digital tools and platforms to create immersive learning experiences. They provide continuous support and feedback, helping students overcome technological and elearning challenges to help them stay motivated. By fostering a sense of community and collaboration, they ensure that learners remain engaged and committed to their educational goals. Their role in promoting a collaborative and cooperative elearning environment is equally significant.
Virtual instructor
A virtual instructor is crucial in elearning, as they are skilled at using learning experiences to ensure student engagement. Their main aim is “to offer support and advice when needed and to provide the necessary scaffolding and teaching of skills when necessary.”[1]. In elearning, ‘scaffolding’ refers to the support and guidance provided to students as they learn new concepts or skills. This can include breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, providing additional resources or explanations when needed, and gradually reducing support as students become more independent. In other words, a virtual instructor helps students make the most of the elearning experience by offering guidance and support while ensuring students can develop their skills.
Digital educator providing collaborative guidance
A digital educator is more than just a teacher, a trainer, or a lecturer because a facilitator has all these roles simultaneously. They facilitate discussions in asynchronous learning events such as threaded discussions, chat sessions, and webinars. They also use elearning tools such as videos, blogs, wikis, and social media to support student understanding and acquisition of content. A digital educator creates a collaborative environment conducive to learning by providing structure and support for the group while allowing learner autonomy. A well-designed online course will balance instructor-led, group work and independent learner activities.
Online mentor managing and engaging students
An online mentor plays a vital role in addressing individual learner needs and monitoring student progress. They assess each student’s strengths and weaknesses, tailoring their support to meet specific requirements. Providing timely interventions when necessary ensures that students receive the help they need before issues escalate. An online mentor also utilises data and analytics to track student performance, identifying patterns that may indicate a need for additional support. This proactive approach is key to maintaining student motivation and fostering a productive learning environment.
More Readings
Discover critical strategies for becoming a successful online facilitator with this comprehensive University of Illinois Springfield guide.
Get an in-depth overview of the essentials of online facilitation through the detailed resources available at Full Circle Associates.
Learn what it takes to excel as a virtual classroom facilitator in today’s digital learning environment from this insightful article by InSync Training.
[1] ACER, 2016. The teacher as a facilitator and resource person. Accessed February 18, 2017 from https://www.teachermagazine.com.au/article/the-teacher-as-a-facilitator-and-resource-person
View the related elearning experience: Authentic Learning, Discovery Learning, Student Led eLearning, Gamification and Mastery of Skills, The eLearning Toolbox, Distance Education.