This overview from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework is an excellent summary of key aspects of good online facilitation. It begins to explore the complexity of this function and demonstrates why this is a skilled and specialised role in effective elearning.
Fortunately as elearning has evolved it has become clear that technology is a vehicle for learning, an opportunity to enable collaboration over distance, and can enhance the learning experience – but is NOT a substitute for skilled facilitation.
The recommended reading for this week describes a framework for effective virtual facilitation. This is a useful overview which gives a sense of what good online facilitation means. The approaches described here, are the best practise approaches we use ourselves.
Selected tweets: Week ended 25 Oct 09:
New Web site offers supervisor growth through e-learning tools – AF.mil: 10/23/2009 – ROBINS.. http://bit.ly/2LR8O1 Private parties needed in promoting e-learning – Jakarta Post: The Government should push th.. http://bit.ly/AoFiT Sify Reports Revenues of $ 38.28 Million for the Second Quarter of … – Earthtimes: Perform.. http://bit.ly/1lx39R Crunch spurs training innovation: blended and Web 2.0 gain – Training Press Releases: 23-Oct.. http://bit.ly/qHdoY Next-Generation Collaboration Solutions Designed to Increase Productivity … – Business Wir.. http://bit.ly/t2Mxe New blog post, “Download: Peer Group and Collaborative Learning” – http://bit.ly/4gykRW
The recommended download this week is really a whole series of downloads. Peer Group and Collaborative Learning in real and virtual worlds was the theme for the eLearning at Edinburgh Conference held in August. The full conference programme with links to abstracts, presentations and videos is available.
The information is intended for elearning professionals and is heavy going if you are new to the field, but even a quick glance through the abstracts will give you a sense of the scope of collaborative elearning in practice.
Collaboration is key to the most effective models of e-learning. Well designed elearning programmes ensure there is opportunity for collaboration and interaction between learners, because it is in this aspect that elearning brings together the best of face-to-face and distance learning.
Distance education can be more stimulating and encourage more critical reasoning than a traditional large instructor-led class because it allows the kind of interaction that takes place most fully in small group settings. Studies have shown that students who take online courses are typically drawn into the subject matter of the class more deeply than in a traditional course because of the discussions they get involved in.
Selected weekly tweets: HSS Selects Learn.com to Deliver Continuing Education to Employees … – PR-USA.net: Using Le.. http://bit.ly/2a00FK ~Savage, scribe, mareko, ladi 6 + great local support. this wednesday #dunedin ONLY$15 I love the Islands. Proceeds to#samoa #tsunami http://www.dunedinaction.com ~ Education right of every citizen – Gulf Daily News: BAHRAIN’s commitment to education is a pe.. http://bit.ly/1OJWyg ~ NHS on course for e-learning – Training Press Releases: 16-Oct-2009 » Training Press Releases.. http://bit.ly/30MzPo ~ Scoop Ed Northland Secures One of the Trades Academy: Tai Tokerau Trades Academy under.. http://bit.ly/muslC ~ New blog post, “Download: E-Learning success stories in the not-for-profit sector” – http://bit.ly/26LY0y
This commentary sets out the clear benefits of elearning for the not-for-profit sector. The link between stated advantages and real case studies illustrates what can be achieved. Creative approaches to building capacity in not-for-profit organisations are well served by the flexibility and customisation that elearning provides.
Elearning provides a cost effective solution to some key issues affecting many not-for-profit organisations. One example is how to successfully manage volunteers. Many community based organisations rely heavily on volunteers at some level. This might be people on the ground delivering service, or at governance level providing oversight as committee members or trustees.
Challenges can arise from the fact that volunteers typically come from diverse backgrounds and present with a range of skills and experience. In these circumstance elearning can assist.
