The Art of Online Facilitation ASSIGNMENT

An important aspect of planning for online

facilitation is to locate, evaluate and learn the

tools or software you will use. Your assignment

is to do just that! Use the questions on these

pages to guide your evaluation of a tool or piece

of software that you intend to use for online

facilitation.

There are a number of practical questions one

must ask when evaluating a new type of

technology:

What kind of cost is associated with this tool

or software?

What kind of equipment is needed? For the

facilitator? For participants?

Is the software/tool easy to use? Is special

training required?

What kinds of support systems are in place

for this tool? Where do you users get help?

What happens when the technology doesn’t

work? Can you still communicate? What kind

of back-up plan would you need?

Practicalities aside, it is almost important to

consider the effect a new technology will have on

what we do. Communication theorist Marshall

McLuhan and his son Eric described four “laws of

media” that describe the effects technology has

on society. These “laws” provide a useful

framework for evaluating the role technology

plays in the way we communicate.

What human trait or experience does the new

medium ENHANCE?

o What is the intended function of the new

medium or technology?

o What does it improve or make more

efficient?

o Does it extend part of the human body, or

one or more of the senses?

o Does it extend some aspect of the human

mind (such as memory)?

o Does it extend the individual, the group,

or society?

What pre-existing technology, method, system, or

medium does the new medium OBSOLESCE?

o What older technology does the new

medium replace?

o What does it render unnecessary?

o What procedures does it by-pass?

o What happens to the old medium that is

rendered “obsolescent”: does it

disappear entirely, become an art object,

or find a new niche?

What technology, method, system, or medium that

was previously obsolesced or abandoned does

the new medium RETRIEVE?

o What archaic elements are made relevant

again? (i.e. tone of voice, facial

expression, etc.)

When fully utilized or pushed to its extreme, what

will the new media or technology REVERSE into?

o What effects will the new medium create

that are OPPOSITE to what was originally

intended? (i.e. are there ways that new

communication tools block

communication?)

o What are the contradictions inherent in

the new technology?

Adapted from:

http://www.johndilworth.com/20-marshall-

mcluhan-four-laws-of-media