Week 3 Overview

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 1 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 facilitation issues in supporting online learners. We’ll draw on some of the ideas around teaching presence and explore specific facilitation responses to support students and to encourage better learning.