questions about using technology to build a community of learners

The following questions were brainstormed by participants in the Classrooms of the Future conference, held at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in May 2007. What questions do YOU have about using technology to build a community of learners? How would you answer any of the questions below?

What do you do to be an effective facilitator with the use of technology?

How do you assess your effectiveness as a facilitator and find the "fine line"?

How do you incorporate humor and laughter appropriately in an online class? How do you balance the fun and the serious?

Do students have a sense of us using social networking and whether we belong?

If the "medium is the message" - what is the effect of our orientation to technology on social structure and relationships? Should we be doing what we are doing? Just because we can, should we?

How can we have our students use the technology so the technology doesn't get in the way of the learning?

How can we gauge the audience and do what we need to build community?

What makes/comprises/defines an effective facilitator?

Who is in control?

Do learners need to be posting a certain number of days per week in order to achieve optimal online community?

In a strictly online environment, do you have any ice breakers that instantly help students connect?