From Michele Gill:
Rainbow
A previous post mentioned the movie The Wizard of Oz, and it got me thinking about when I was a little girl and my parents would let me and my little sister stay up late to watch “specials” on TV…but the movies would run far past our bedtime. It wasn’t until fifth grade that I found out the movie didn’t end with everyone getting makeovers in Emerald City!
The movie itself was a lot of fun, but the introduction of Technicolor was amazing to a generation that had grown up on black and white. One thing that always amazed me as a girl who grew up in the 70’s was the quality of the black and white part of the movie. It was really crisp, and didn’t seem “old-fashioned”… until the color appeared! What a transformation!
Online courses can be pretty good; “crisp” even, with good content, a good platform, and well designed practice activities. Making online courses transformational — jumping from black and white to Technicolor — takes more than good content. You might think I am talking about a technical change… adding streaming video and dynamic interactivities… adding more chat and blogs and wikis… but that’s not it! Some really crummy courses have every bell and whistle you could imagine. Some great courses have few. What is the transformational difference?
If it was easy, every online course would be great! The transformational difference is a combination of three “C’s” (Content, Collaboration, and Community) held together by the glue of a great facilitator.
Content
We start with content… otherwise what’s the point? A group of folks online without a content-based agenda becomes a social network. Facebook is great, but it’s not an online course! Content matters, and the good selection, organization, and presentation of content is one of the three foundational requirements of any Technicolor course. Content alone does not guarantee transformation. It must be there, but it is not enough on its own.
Collaboration
Collaboration happens when experienced professionals debate, consider, and apply the content. Participants provide examples, question theories, and expand their thinking. An excellent online facilitator encourages every participant to dig deeply into the content, presenting varying views and seeking new ideas. Collaboration is often more productive in online courses than face-to-face ones. Every single participant contributes. There is no back row. Participants have time to consider their thoughts and/or responses before posting, and the resulting analysis and sythesis occurs at a level I’ve rarely seen in small group discussions face-to-face. Collaboration leads to transformation.
Community
When a facilitator creates a safe, social, and friendly environment online, participants are more likely to interact. A fun, social environment, combined with critical thinking and collaboration results in community. Many new participants fear that taking an online course will be a cold and impersonal experience. These participants are always surprised when online courses, with the right facilitation, are far MORE personal than their face-to-face counterparts. Great facilitators encourage social participation in the course, sharing personal thoughts and humor appropriately. Participants who feel safe and interact socially within the course collaborate more effectively. They share classroom- and life- challenges. They seek solutions. They encourage each other. They become a team. They transform.
Technicolor Courses?
The transformation from black and white to Technicolor happens when great content meets a great facilitator. Great content takes research and skill to develop and present. Great facilitators need coaching and training to hone their skills. The whole process requires a learning management system in which to function.
Combining the three “C’s” (Content, Collaboration, and Community) in an effective learning management system produces the biggest “C” yet… Change. Transformation! Technicolor!
