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- How
to Be an Online Trainer
"As
a computer, I find your trust in technology amusing" ~ anonymous
Online trainers
are more than transmitters of knowledge, they are facilitators of
learning. As a online trainer, one must make the transition from
the role of trainer to the role of facilitator. A trainer has some
control over the instructional setting and the learners, and can
"tell" the learner what to do. A facilitator has to relinquish
control over the situation and help the learner become a self-directed
learner.
The articles
listed on the right are wonderful!! Please take time to read each
of them as they offer terrific advice and great stories about being
an online trainer.
Below is my
summary of advice and recommendations for an online trainer, based
upon years of experience and conversations with other online trainers.
I have described what I think to be essential traits and practices,
and hope you will find it helpful!
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Related
Reading:
Chapter
10
Motivate Learners
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Be
comfortable and proficient with the technologies for distance
teaching.
Practice
many, many, many times with the technologies.
Make
sure you know how to set up, present, and communicate with
them.
Know
who to work with within the organization to coordinate technology
requirements and availability of technology systems. Have
a back up plan ready when technologies might fail.
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Help
students become comfortable with the new technologies and
methods of communication.
Set
the tone of the course with a very positive and motivating
introduction. Encourage all learners and assure them that
they can participate in and complete the course.
Plan
some practice sessions using the technologies. These can
be informal "getting to know you" sessions that
allow everyone a chance to introduce him or herself.
Be enthusiastic!
Smile! It is infectious.
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Individualize
and customize the training for the students
Maintain
regular and timely contact with learners. Establish guidelines
for responding to inquiries or questions from learners.
Humanize
the presentations. Incorporate the learners’ experiences,
backgrounds, or goals into the examples and discussions
of the content. Call them by name
Provide
timely and quality feedback on learners’ questions, contributions
to discussions, assignments, or tests.Let the learner’s
know when they can expect a response. My policy is to respond
to e-mails within 2 business days, and by noon on Monday.
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Practice
Time Management
Budget
consistent times for responding to learner inquiries, participating
in online discussions, holding virtual office hours, and
evaluating assignments. Adhere to this timeline!
Have
the entire course completed and ready to present before
the course begins.The hardest thing to do is to facilitate
or lead a course while you are also developing the course.
Budget
time to customize and modify course materials. It takes
a great deal of time to create materials appropriate for
an online course.
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Involve
the Learner: Presentations are Not Teaching
Plan
and design for interactivity. Include activities that encourage
learners to take an active, participatory role throughout
the online course. These activities might include group
projects, presentations, or serving as moderator of a threaded
discussion.
Integrate
a variety of both synchronous and asynchronous communication
technologies, such as e-mail, virtual chat, threaded discussions,
listservs, audioconferences, and videoconferences.
Address
questions to specific learners. Monitor the participation
of the learners. If someone is not participating or completing
the activities in a timely manner, contact them.
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