FOC09 2.3 Facilitating, moderating or teaching

From the definitions I have read in dictionaries and wikipedia it seems that the teacher is the subject expert, the facilitator makes the process of learning smoother and the moderator is the same as a facilitator, but particularly online.

My own definition is that a good teacher will facilitate learning for students and understands that “learning to learn” is a skill that students need to acquire and practice. A good teacher also understands that they are not the only expert in their field and students will learn a lot from each other and other experts.

A good facilitator will assist students to learn and provide resources and links to make the learning journey smoother and more efficient, so that the students are not wandering around in a maze.

A moderator will do these things on line.

A really good teacher/facilitator/moderator will assess the student’s needs and assist them to learn in any way they can – flexibly.

A teacher could undermine facilitation by deciding that they are the only ones that know anything about the subject.

A moderator might undermine facilitation by deciding that they are the only ones that will “control” group interactions.

A facilitator might undermine teaching or moderating by not giving any guidance but just putting up a whole mish mash of information for students to sort through on their own.

Skills required for:

Teaching
· Understanding of students learning needs
· Understanding of student’s abilities and prior knowledge
· Understanding of subject matter
· Understanding of how students learn
· Ability to write and assess clear learning objectives
· Experience in teaching/colleagues to ask for assistance
· Experience of learning
· Presentation skills – in person, written, verbal
· Ability to condense, simplify, expand information – in person, in writing, orally
· Ability to plan classes according to learning needs of students
· Willingness to develop professionally

Facilitating
· Understanding of students learning needs, abilities and prior knowledge
· Understanding of subject matter /where to go for expert content
· Understanding of how students’ learn
· Ability to write and assess clear learning objectives
· Experience in facilitating/colleagues to ask for assistance
· Experience of learning
· Presentation skills
· Ability to condense, simplify, expand information – in person, in writing, orally
· Ability to plan classes according to learning needs of students
· Willingness to develop professionally

Moderating
· Understanding of online students needs, abilities and prior knowledge
· Understanding of online subject matter and where to go for expert content
· Understanding of how students communicate and learn online, and the particular requirements of online learning, including technological requirements
· Experience in teaching online/colleagues to ask for assistance
· Ability to write and assess clear learning objectives
· Experience of learning online
· Online presentation skills – video, CMC, written, verbal, blogs, wikis, elluminate, LMS, Skype etc
· Ability to condense, simplify, expand information – in writing, orally
· Ability to plan course according to learning needs of students – chunking for internet, visual resources, social interaction, technological development
· Willingness to develop professionally

Quite a lot of cross-over and similarities really.

Be good to hear your comments.

Thanks

Adrienne