Towards online facilitator competencies in collaborative higher learning programmes

• Other Authors: Hitchcock, J (Contributor), Hitchcock, L (Contributor), Kaskenpalo, P (Contributor)
• Format: Others
• Published: BrownWalker Press, 2013-08-28T05:44:11Z.
• Subjects: Inter-cultural collaborative programmes; Collaborative computing; Virtual teams; Facilitator competencies; Group facilitation; Conference Contribution
• Online Access: Get fulltext

 Collaborative programmes typically involve a combination of face-to-face and online collaborative engagement between organisations. Individuals and groups within those organisations need to effectively work together across distance, time and cultural norms. The core competencies needed by group leaders to effectively facilitate the online aspects of these communication activities is an emerging area within our expanding knowledge of intercultural collaborative exchange between institutions. Drawing on a number of facilitated online discussions, involving 65 practicing group facilitators from 18 countries, this paper presents an initial series of Online Facilitator Competencies that were synthesised from conversations within a series of online facilitation skills training programmes held over five years. These competencies provide a new framework for an expanding awareness of the complexity and skills required of group leaders in intercultural collaborative programmes. The framework presents six areas of online facilitator competencies and the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to demonstrate those competencies.