THE ROLE OF MODERATOR IN THE ROLE OF MODERATOR IN VIRTUAL CLASSROOMSVIRTUAL CLASSROOMS
Virtual Moderator
Target audiences have radically changed•Dispersed in a broader market•Time constrained•Tech savvy•Computer games, email, the Internet, cell phones, instant messaging, and webcams are integral to their lives*
Teaching methodology and content had to adaptTeaching methodology and content had to adapt*Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, Marc Prensky
Virtual Moderator
Virtual college courses will soon rival traditional face-to-face offerings*
*Sloan Consortium Survey
Schools Offering: Also Offer VirtualGraduate Courses 65%Undergraduate Courses 63%Master Degree Programs 44%Business Degree Programs 44%
Virtual Moderator
Main challenges with virtual classrooms•Awareness of the platform•Preparing professors to deliver effectively in the virtual environment•Low levels of interaction from students
Virtual Moderator
To engage students in virtual classrooms:Professors must be able to successfully navigate virtual communication tools without distraction
Video conferencing
Video conferencing Shared whiteboardsShared whiteboards
Shared desktops
Real-time chat& polling
Real-time collaboration
Presenter control Audio control& VoIP
Virtual Moderator
Virtual Moderator allows professor to engage students and focus on content. Tasks include:•Prepare instructor for virtual environment•Manage entry processes and online community •Virtual classroom introductions, icebreaking, and protocol •Manage technology aspects•Foster and support discussion and dialog •Summarize, harvest, and weave appropriate content connections •Support relationship and trust building among learners•Work with full understanding of diversity in learning style, culture and personal styles •Distribute and collect assignments
Virtual Moderator
Results of Virtual Moderator
Leveraged limited teaching resources
Increased enrollment and student satisfaction
Facilitated internal and external collaboration
Increased productivity for faculty and staff
Improved sense of community with
learners
Motivated students and increased ability to
structure their time
Improved completion rates and
understanding
Improving attention to students with differing
learning styles
Limited investment
Virtual Moderator
• Boeing developed a virtual program for future chief engineers which was multi-phased and included simulation, team learning, small group discussion, and leaders teaching leaders.
• For parts of the program, WebEx and telecon, a virtual moderator, and virtual instructor were used.
• Besides cost savings, they found it was an opportunity to bring together a large number of geographically and organizationally diverse students, lengthening the benefit of the learning as they shared experiences.
• When Boeing completed an ROI study on the program, the virtual element added to the impact on knowledge transfer, and ultimate ROI was greater than 540%
• “One of the key lessons learned when using a virtual classroom is employing a skilled virtual facilitator for each session, in addition to the instructor.”
ROI Case Study: BoeingAdopting the Virtual Classroom, Dr. Kim Armstrong, The Boeing Company, California State University
Virtual Moderator
Get Ready for Virtual Learning Do you have a virtual platform like WebEx to meet your needs? Are the virtual classroom courses relevant to the learner’s goals? Was content repurposed or created specifically with the virtual
environment in mind? Are instructors ready to be trained in virtual classroom delivery? Is a moderator available and skilled to support instructors or SMEs
with proper facilitation techniques? Have you identified who will provide technical support to users? Has ample time been allowed for students to test platform access?
If you have questions on getting started,call 203-417-5701