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The teachers role in creating an online learning community
Conference paper

The teachers role in creating an online learning community

D. Maor
Ninth International Learning Conference: New Learning (Beijing Friendship Hotel, Beijing, China, 16/07/2002–20/07/2002)
2002
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Abstract

New technologies provides the opportunity for teachers to make learning interactive and collaborative by using a social constructivist approach to teaching and learning. This involves creating a student-centred approach where the teacher takes the role of the facilitator and the students engage in peer-learning. In this paper I reflect on my role as a facilitator in a higher education online unit that was designed for science and mathematics teachers who were geographically and socially isolated. My goal in unit design was to create a networked community of learners that encouraged peer learning and reflective thinking. Qualitative data from students' transcripts suggest that peer learning became a significant feature of the community, however, the reflective thinking opportunities often were missed. This paper will discuss pedagogies used by the facilitator in promoting peer-learning. In addition, it will discuss the challenges faced by the facilitator in transforming on-line interactions to higher levels of negotiation to create reflective thinking.

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