Over the years individuals from institutions and organizations across British Columbia have taken Facilitating Learning Online (FLO) to the next level by participating in the Facilitator Development/Mentorship program and co-facilitating one or more of the FLO courses. If you are thinking about adopting FLO courses at your institution, these are the people who can help!
What got you started on this path to becoming a FLO facilitator and mentor?
In 2013 I co-facilitated my first Instructional Skills Workshop Online (ISWO) while working as an instructional designer for Royal Roads University (RRU). ISWO – which was later renamed to FLO – was “born” at RRU and I have been privileged to co-facilitate with and learn from the original developers. FLO facilitation has always been captivating to me because the courses are great examples of how engaging online learning experiences can be. When people have said to me, “I don’t like learning online” or “I don’t find learning online very engaging” I think, “Oh, you haven’t experienced online learning like I have!” Being part of the wonderful community of learners and facilitators who care deeply about outstanding learning online has been a great source of inspiration to me.
What experience and expertise do you bring to this new support role of helping others to adopt and/or facilitate FLO courses?
I have facilitated FLO, the FLO Facilitator Development course (FDO), and one FLO MicroCourse so far with one more coming in June 2019. I developed and have facilitated within FLO Synchronous and I was an author of the recently published FLO Facilitation Guide. I was part of the FLO curriculum redesign and have contributed to the “FLO Enthusiasts” community. I was thrilled to have worked with, and been mentored by, Doug Kerr, the original developer of the Instructional Skills Workshop, upon which FLO principles are based.
I’ve been building on a career in education-related roles as an independent learning designer and facilitator since 2011. I work with higher educational institutions, non-profit organizations and other clients to design and facilitate great online and face-to-face learning experiences. As an associate faculty member at Royal Roads University I understand what it means to facilitate online in both for-credit and not-for-credit environments. I am happy to work with organizations that are interested in adopting one or more of the “FLO family” of courses.
