flex-e-bility

1. The usability of virtual classroom software has improved immensely in the last two
or three years.
2. Major technical concerns relate to the ability of participants to connect to the
software.
3. Once connect participants generally find the virtual classroom environment easy to
use and relatively intuitive.
4. Poor facilitator practice in face-to-face environments is often replicated in
virtual classroom environments.
5. Good facilitators of PD using a virtual classroom environment:
a. Put significant effort into planning and preparation, and are prepared to be
flexible.
b. Model good facilitation practices.
c. Requires multitasking which is achieved through practice and feedback.
Monitoring everything that is happening is a challenge.
d. Requires calculated risk taking. One has to be prepared to fail and have a plan
B.
e. Uses silence, blended on- and off-line activities, active engagement of
participants in knowledge creation.
6. Participants may use the Chat box to have ‘private’ conversations during a
session. Sometimes this is a form of engagement. Sometimes it’s best to ignore it.