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