Facilitating Moodle Courses Topic 1

1. Lesson:
Fundamental Concepts
Objective:
After completing this lesson, you will be
able to:
– post to a discussion forum
– describe similarities and differences
between online and face-to-face
facilitation.
1

2. Topic 1: Comparing Online
and Face-to-Face Facilitation
First, some terminology:
• Online learning -- Learning that takes place on the
Internet, away from a physical classroom. Learning
can be synchronous (facilitator and participants
online at the same time) or asynchronous; self-paced
(participants study on their own schedule without
interacting with a facilitator or other participants) or
facilitated, or a combination. Also called distancelearning and e-learning.
• Face-to-face – Facilitator and participants are
together in a room. Also called in-person, classroom2
based, and traditional.

3. Topic 1: Comparing Online and Faceto-Face Facilitation
The online environment is becoming a more
commonplace platform both for teaching and
learning, and its popularity has increased
exponentially and continues to grow.
The Internet has made it easier for anyone
to study and for anyone to teach online,
but teaching and learning online is very
different from teaching face-to-face. New
skill sets may have to be learned by all.
3

4. Topic 1: Comparing Online and Faceto-Face Facilitation
Because you already have
experience as a face-to-face
facilitator, and probably also as
a participant, you have skills
and knowledge that are
transferrable to facilitating in the
online format.
• Reflect on factors that led to your own successful
facilitation of either face-to-face or online workshops, as
well as from your perspective as a participant. Include
the following questions in your reflection:
4

5. Topic 1: Comparing Online and Faceto-Face Facilitation
• What do you do to maximize the probability that
participants:
– understand your instructions?
– participate at a certain level of quality?
– stay in the course?
What are the implications for you as an online
facilitator?
Click Introductions to discuss your answers with the
group.
5