7 Week 7: AN ONLINE LEARNING MODEL

Outcomes:

Given selected readings, videos, and collaborative activities, you will gain competency in:

• Utilizing Gilly Salmon’s Five Stage Model for online design and facilitation
• Navigating the complexities involved in facilitating learning activities
• Designing and facilitating activities that align with learning objectives and assessments

Introduction

As more and more instructors are asked to teach online, in increasingly complex technological environments to cohorts of learners with diverse expectations, varied levels of prior knowledge and skills, there is an increasing likelihood that the quality of learning experience will be affected. While instructors may be competent in using technology for their professional learning and personal lives, they may have little or no experience in the online learning environments they are asked to teach within and little time to learn prior to a new teaching experience.

In Week 2 we introduced the Community of Inquiry model, the importance of instructor presence (and the other “presences”) and we briefly explored some preliminary facilitation techniques an instructor uses to building online community.

This week we’ll focus on applying facilitation techniques to support online learners. We’ll draw on some of the ideas around teaching presence and explore specific facilitation strategies to support students and to encourage better learning.

In this module, participants will work collaboratively to examine Gilly Salmon’s Five Stage Model in relation to online facilitation and design. Participants will then identify particular stages of the model used in the FLOf course.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK:

Step 1: Reading and Videos – Participants read through a slide show and watch videos to learn about Gilly Salmon’s Five Step Model.

Step 2: Glossary – Participants add one new term to the glossary with a definition, example and/or a personal question.

Step 3: FLOf Facilitation Strategies – Participants reflect on, identify and rationalize/expound on key facilitation strategies so as to build their repertoire of online teaching techniques.

References

OER-Facilitating Learning Online-Fundamentals @ RRU by Royal Roads University CC-BY-SA

Schedule and Deadlines