Gilly Salmon’s 5-stage CMC Model
Gilly Salmon addresses the role of the e-moderator and facilitator when creating electronic activities largely based around asynchronous communication technologies. When designing activities the model suggests 5 stages:
1. Access and Motivation
2. Online Socialisation
3. Information Exchange
4. Knowledge Construction
5. Development
In relation to learning activities designed for electronic learning events the following considerations are needed at each stage:
Access and Motivation
It is essential everyone involved in the learning activity has sufficient access such as sound, high bandwidth etc. Motivation must be encouraged from the beginning of the learning activity to encourage the learner to keep coming back.
Online Socialisation
Socialising is an important part of any learning. Learning delivered electronically is no exception. Learning activities such encourage learner participation and promote a sense of belonging.
Information Exchange
Facilitating this stage of the model requires consideration of the information sharing of the collective of learners. At this stage content can become more complex but must be sufficiently summarised and explored before the facilitator can be satisfied learners are discussed and challenging the ideas the content is based upon.
Knowledge Construction
This stage encourages learners to construct the knowledge scaffolding that relates the content to their own personal experiences, to add value and meaning to the individual.
Development
The final stage provides learners with the responsibility for their own learning and should allow opportunity to make their own case for the conclusions that they have drawn from the learning received in the first four stages.
