From a first-time horizon of facilitating learning in the online medium, I have tried to incorporate some of my f2f personal supports. Three of the general supports that I have provided have been:
- Weekly email newsletters entitled, Looking Back and Ahead. – This publication (a) reviews the main points of the last module, (b) points out the issues that needed additional clarification for further learning and application, (c) describes what tasks and expectations are in the next module, and (d) offers some advice on how to proceed and manage within the next module of study.
- Exemplars – In the weekly updates, where appropriate and necessary, I attach exemplars that I have in my personal files that align with the tasks, and also provide suggestions for how to approach and complete the upcoming assignment.
- Making individual contact – When students are behind, even slightly, or when students are having life problems, personal emails (with the option of phone conversations) are conducted to seek clarification, and to offer support, advice and flexibility.
An example of an assignment support is found below:
Lit Review Suggestions – Assign 5
Next Steps:
For future online facilitating, I have:
- Kept copies of weekly newsletters for refinement and reuse.
- Gathered course exemplars into a file for future use.
- Made notes for my own ‘heads up’ as to when the group will need specific, timely intervention and support for completing the course material.
Five Further Entries/Actions for Online Learning Supports:
- Introduce and explain key vocabulary.
- Learn and practice about creating and embedding video in to online course material.
- Become more knowledgeable about the effect of embedded video in online course material.
- Continue to speak ‘personally’ with little jargon and where necessary explain the jargon using an explanatory phrase.
- Apply the Segmenting Principle to keep the communication on student expectations clear and manageable.