FORUM: How do I...
In this activity YOU will teach other participants how to perform basic (or advanced!) tasks in this course environment.
Steps for this activity
- Select one or more of the items from the list (or add your own)
• Add a photo to your profile
• Save the Workshop Handbook offline
• Find out which mini session I am facilitating
• Connect with members of my facilitation team
• Dock sidebar blocks
• Avoid having all forum posts come to my email inbox
• Find out what is new since my last login
• Find something I saw posted to a forum yesterday
• Send a message to a workshop participant
• Add your own task... - Work through the steps for completing the task
- Write up clear instructions, including any media that you think will help others understand the steps (screenshots, slides, animation, screencasts, voice memo...) You may even find links to resources, or openly licensed materials you can incorporate into your "how to" instructions.
- Post your instructions by starting a new discussion in this forum. Be sure to add a descriptive subject heading. You can attach a document, link a resource you created elsewhere, or post instructions directly in the forum post.
- Finally, have a look at what others have posted. Do you have questions? Any suggestions for improving the instructions? Reply to the post with your thoughts. OR, were the instructions helpful as posted? Then 'like' the post to show that it was useful to you.
Facilitator Tip:
In a new online course environment you can expect that it will take some time to become familiar with the layout of the materials, discussions and other activities. As a facilitator, it can be useful to prepare tutorials and "how to" documents for your learners. However, the challenge is anticipating what participants will need. Your learners arrive with such a variety of skills and prior experience, and there are so many ways to communicate, publish, share, and manage your participation. Why not take advantage of this distributed expertise rather than attempt to anticipate what everyone will need help with?
Engaging learners in activities that aim to address common issues and struggles can go a long way toward improving the experience for everyone. It can turn frustrations and into action, and motivate learners to problem solve and share their skills and knowledge.