Active Learning, Diversity, 2

Translation to Distance Learning
The authoritarian style does not translate well to Distance Education. The facilitator role works well because online education has a passive component. No matter how spiffy the courseware graphics might be, people are still sitting at a computer and responding to visual material. A facilitator can make up for this by letting the class have the equivalent of running to the board to carry out a group activity (Felder, 1993.).

Some ways to make the online classroom more active in learning include:
· Posting occasional graphics to add some humor to the class. A blushing face to illustrate the instructor’s error always works well.
· Showing students how to do good research. The instructor can help students reach new levels of research and writing by showing them how. In this way, the facilitator can also be an effective demonstrator.
· Helping with student attitudes and background education through extra material. The instructor has no limits in providing extra material for the students to use. The main folder or course materials folder can be used for supplementary material on writing, research, APA, time management, and case study method.
All students want to be valued and stimulated in a delivery mode, which can be passive and cold (University of Idaho, 2005).