Facilitating Learning Online - APR2015-OER

During the FLO workshop, you will facilitate a learning activity ("mini-session") on a pre-assigned topic for your fellow FLO participants. You will be assigned to a team and topic based on the information you provided in the pre-workshop survey. Teams typically have 2-3 members. Note, this process sometimes takes a few days as final workshop enrolment is determined. You may negotiate a transfer to a different mini-session topic/team by posting your request to the Open Forum. 

Each week’s Overview, Readings and Resources provides information you will need to facilitate the mini-session effectively. The actual design and approach of each mini-session activity is up to you and your team members. Be creative and don’t be afraid to try something new. Check out the Back Pocket Strategies document in the Mini-session Planning section; this document contains a collection of ideas about different ways you might facilitate the session.

One of the FLO facilitators will be your lead support during the week.

Before your Mini-Session:

• Check the mini-session team assignments on the hub page.
  
  
• Navigate to your week’s mini-session planning area and post your contact information and availability in the private planning forum during Week 1. 
  
  
• Discuss how you will communicate during the planning. Identify what you need to prepare and who will take the lead.
  
  
• Review the Overview, Readings and Resources document to familiarize yourself with the theme for the week and the goal(s) and tasks for the mini-session.
  
  
• Check the Back Pocket Strategy for ideas on how to facilitate the mini-session.
  
  
• Refer to the Mini-session Intended Learning Outcomes to help you focus session activities.
  
  
• Discuss with your team: How will you “wrap up” the activity. Think about a way to help participants synthesize their learning and come up with a "take home message".
  
  
• Keep the FLO facilitator assigned to your mini-session informed about your progress.
  
  
• A private mini-session planning forum is available each week. Use of that forum for your planning is optional, and is visible only to members of your facilitation team. However, you may choose to make it visible to all participants; allowing others to peek in on planning-in-action discussions can contribute to everyone's learning.
  
  
• In your planning, consider that some of your participants may have work or other commitments during the week; try to build in some flexibility.
  
  
• In the final planning, discuss if/how you'd like to split the workload (e.g., alternate days, play different roles, focus on certain people, etc). No matter how you decide to facilitate, the key is, how can you support your learners to achieve the learning outcomes provided with your topic?
  
  
• As soon as possible, let the FLO facilitator know if you need any additional tools set up to support your mini-session activity (e.g., you may find you need a wiki, forum, special team permissions, etc.)
  
  
• Plan for a strong, clear start to your mini-session. Ideally, you should post a welcome message by Sunday evening. Think about how you will make sure that every participant receives/views it.
  
  
• Provide clear instructions, timelines, or other expectations. Ideally, introductory information like this will be online before your mini-session starts This ensures your online presence is evident when participants "arrive", early birds can get a jump on things if needed, and no time is wasted.

During your Mini-Session

• Facilitate as you see fit. Ideally you will come into it with a thoughtful plan containing well-reasoned instructional strategies, and it will all unfold beautifully! If it doesn't, adjust as you go!
  
  
• Don't hesitate to contact your FLO facilitators for support during your mini-session. We're here to help!
  
  
• Be flexible - your participants may encounter unexpected challenges. Find ways to accommodate if possible but keep the session moving along.
  
  
• Communicate any changes clearly; ensure all participants are informed.
  
  
• Monitor participation during the week. You may choose to contact an individual privately to check on reasons for a lack of participation.
  
  
• Participants may provide you with feedback during the week, or at the end of the week when they are asked to post in the mini-session feedback forum. Remember that the feedback is intended to help you improve. You don’t have to agreed with it or change your behaviour. Take a breath and reflect briefly before you respond.
  
  
• You may find that the value of the feedback increases if you ensure your full understanding by paraphrasing the information received and checking with the person who posted the feedback. If there are particular skills or facilitation techniques you want to improve, make sure to communicate with others so they can provide ongoing support.

After your Mini-Session: FLIF!

• Remind your participants to use the feedback forum to provide you with feedback about the mini-session.
  
  
• Reflect on the suggested assessment criteria for your mini-session.
  
  
• Check the feedback forum before you complete your FLIF (reflective survey “Feel, Like, Improve, Feedback).
  
  
• Complete your own online FLIF. A FLO facilitator will review and respond.
  
  
• Celebrate! Your mini-session is done!

A possible timeline

• The weekend before your mini-session week: post instructions (including timelines) for your participants. Make these extremely clear. 

• Monday: Ensure strong instructor presence early. If there are student posts, respond - acknowledge, encourage, re-direct if needed. If there are NO posts, make a move: post a message that provides a nudge and/or check for understanding (it may be that they are unclear about how to proceed and are waiting for someone else to make the first move). 

• Late Thurs/Friday - wrap things up and remind participants to provide you with feedback

• End of your week - reflect on feedback you received and submit your FLIF, ideally by Sunday night, so you'll be ready to actively contribute and support your peers in the next mini-session.