3 initial thoughts
Digital learning requires a lot of up-front detailed design consideration to support good facilitation. Prior to courses starting we need to design for the elements we want to include and engage participants with. In face to face facilitation you can go in with a loose plan, with more reliance on the showmanship of teaching sometimes but the digital element requires a map very well laid out. Design and facilitation are equal partners.
Multiple channels for communicating are likely going to hit the marks people need in facilitating. A bit of video, some written guidelines, a synchronous session, activities both in the walled garden and outside of it and quick, regular check ins to create social presence all help to create the feeling of togetherness, safety and engagement in the community of learners.
While I believe the upfront design is important the availability for checking into learner interactions and engagement is not something to overlook. While the blueprint is set before a learning event takes place it doesn’t mean the plan has created an autonomous vehicle. There still needs to be a driver at the wheel ensuring the passengers are safe and that they are looking at the right sights out the window.
2 questions
Conflict for me is still a thing I want to engage with when learning. Debates, pushing each other to come to better conclusions and challenging one another are all things I enjoy as a learner, but this can be hard without the language, norms and understanding that a face to face environment has more readily available. How can a facilitator navigate and encourage this kind of discourse to take place in ways that are acceptable and encourage learning for participants in a digital learning environment?
Another question I have, and this is a big one, likely outside of the scope of just this topic and course but what is really the point of academic institutions now if we can create learning communities online? It feels like they are only here to legitimize education in the labour market and even then, they might be losing their grip. This is not I guess as much about facilitation, but a broader question provoked by considering digital learning and effective digital learning facilitation taking place in communities of learning outside of academia.
1 metaphor
This represents the idea that while the facilitator has designed the bus and helped the learners into their seats the bus is not self-driven. The driver is needed for all kinds of things, greeting he passengers, stopping at the rest areas, showing the passengers the sites and ensuring everyone is and feels safe and also making sure everyone’s fancy hats are tied on by the looks of this picture.
