Part of a project done by my trainees on the Emoderation 2012 course October.

1. Creating a good social environment
online
Tips & tricks for online tutors

2. Importance of socialising in online courses
It provides the „grease“ in the online course machinery :
 Students get to know their partners – other students
and tutor(s)
 Students feel that the course has a human face
 Students learn how to interact in a synchronous and
asynchronous way in preparation for the core tasks

3. Online socialising tasks & tools
Variety of options:
 A fun quiz
 A jigzaw:everyone contributes on a particular subject from a
different angle
 Everyone shares something personal in the forum: for example -
describe your office to your partners
 Everyone contacts another participant commenting on
something in their profile or post
 Meet up in real time
 Use all the modes: forum, wiki, chat room etc

4. The role of the tutor in online
socialising
 Facilitator
 Guide
 Encourager
 Animator
 Bringing everyone into the discussion
 Equal participant
 Problem-solver: technical, interpersonal

5. Specific tips for tutors
Synchronous:
 Be available online well before everyone else
 Be prepared for any questions
 Be prepared for technical glitches occuring on participants‘ side
 Use reformulating and rephrasing when dealing with errors
made by language learners
Asynchronous:
 Have a clear presence
 Monitor frequently
 Contribute personally

6. General tips for tutors
 Make sure you have a clear
understanding of the role of the
socialisation stage in the course
 Consider making this explicit at the start
 Or be prepared to explain this clearly
and non-defensively if required.