Role of Discussion Facilitator

The figure slowly climbed toward the summit of the mountain, hand over hand, pulling up toward the guru's cave. The climber reached the top, fingers raw and clothes tattered. He beheld the master: long white hair, wearing a flowing robe, indeterminate age. The master sat in the lotus position and seemed totally detached from worldly concerns. The pilgrim knew he could ask only one question. A question for which there were no answers in the books, the journals, or from consultants. he approached the master and asked: "Master, what is the secret of virtual operations?" The master was quiet for a long time, considering this question. At last she spoke: "You could have sent e-mail."

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On facilitating an online discussion: Often, a long discussion will leave the participants feeling a bit lost. The conversation might have taken so many twists and turns that people are unsure of where they have gotten to, or even what the original question was. It is enormously helpful to have a facilitator occasionally post a summary of what has been said so far. A summary might identify areas where consensus has been reached, and the questions that are still unresolved. It might point out the major themes that have arisen, providing a framework for further discussion. It can summarize arguments that have been made, so as to prevent the discussion from retracing the same ground over and over. And the summary can provide links to the full original text of any messages that it references. A good summary is helpful to the participants, and is valuable to anyone coming late to the discussion. Writing a good summary requires human intelligence; it involves not just comprehending the meaning of individual messages, but recognizing and describing complex patterns and relationships between them.

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Tips for online discussion facilitators:

set the tone for the discussion create friendly, social environment for learning nurture the conversation ask questions probe responses channel tangents personalize the discussion attend to the emotional dimension spur participation when it is lagging request examples or illustrations reinforce good discussion behaviors create a feeling of trust that motivates contributions set the pace promote cooperation raise questions that remain unanswered attend to overlooked messages request responses present conflicting opinions make connection validate multiple perspectives use a diversity of approaches welcome the unanticipated be yourself respond in a timely way logon at least daily

synthesize ideas prepare occasional ongoing summaries periodically comment on the state of the discussion integrate disparate contributions paraphrase offer implications suggest conclusions write weaving comments recap the highlights of the discussion conclude the discussion with an overall synthesis review the discussion and comment on what could have been done differently speak the truth in a gentle way walk on water

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Home Contents Syllabus Intro 1 2 3 4 5 6 Group Summary Assignments WebCT Instructors

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