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Source of
graphic:
http://engineering.vanderbilt.edu/news/2013/fisher-leads-workshop-on-multidisciplinary-research-for-online-education/moocs-image/
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Massive-open-online-courses {or MOOCs} : a
hot topic in open and distance learning nowadays. The idea of thousands of
persons from all over the world having free and open access to the same course in an Ivy League
institution is mind boggling but it’s a reality.
MOOCs
are based on priciples of openness and interaction/connectedness and learner
autonomy. Dave Cormier has produced the following useful four minute video
Not everyone is blown away by
the concept of MOOCs however , as Justin Ferriman provides 5 reasons why MOOCs
provide very little real value. Take a read of Justin’s article and post your
comments. So what do you think? To MOOC or not to MOOC?
I agree MOOCs are not for everyone, but the ability to use the technology to teach massive amounts of persons is quite remarkable. I've been a student in two MOOCs and I can safely say - and I have said it - that the learning that I have gained in those MOOCs was phenomenal - and is like nothing that I have experienced before! I took a Masters level course with Stanford redesigned as a MOOC so it was myself and 2000 other students, and a power searching course with Google with like 10,000 other enrollees, and I'm am professionally the better for it, not to mention my social network has grown in depth due to the contacts that I have made online! MOOCs work (at least they did for me!)
ReplyDeleteTamara
Tamara its great that you share your positive experiences with MOOCs. I plan to try it to form my own conclusions as well. I think its an interesting concept and can work depending on the individual's reasons for pursuing the course.
DeleteThanks for the interest shown in the blog. I have visited your website and will share with others. Please feel free to join in at any time
ReplyDeleteNot to MOOC
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I am learning about MOOCs. I find the concept interesting. However, I don't believe MOOCs would be suitable for learning the law. I agree with Tamara that MOOCS are not for everyone. When learning the law or trying to understand a new legal concept I would rather go to an authoritative source rather than obtain information through MOOCs. I don't know if any of the courses have a legal basis. But I would be cautious to follow such for several reasons. The law in the Commonwealth Caribbean is highly specialized and rather than get supplied with inaccurate information which might cause me to get confused I would stay away from MOOCs. I agree with Justin's article that not everything that is free is good. I would also ask; how can you evaluate or authenticate the qualification of the 'specialist' who creates the MOOCs? I also agree with Dr. Dianne that depending on the individual's reasons for pursuing the course MOOCs can be suitable.
Alicia
I began exploring MOOCs last semester because I did not know how the system operated. I found out that MOOCs are often free (as noted in both links in Dr. Dianne's post) and one may be able to pay if a certification is desired.
ReplyDeleteWhat was very interesting to me was that I could also register to MOOCs that were not currently on offer. In other words, if a course had been offered in the past, the materials for the course could often be accessed by persons interested in exploring them, and this is what I did in the field in which I had an interest. It did not appear that the course would be offered for several months and I wanted the exposure quickly, so I registered and was able to obtain all of the materials and even pursue the coursework if I desired. Because the course was not currently on offer, nobody would mark or comment on my material, but as a self-directed learner, I got considerable value from the MOOC nevertheless.
I also never completed the course. As the demands of my days increased, I became unable to log in to the course as I had planned and so I "dropped out" before I finished the last element. I did not unregister, but I just stopped going to the course site. I have learned that this is commonplace with MOOCs. Where thousands of persons may sign up for MOOCs, they will not all complete the course. I know that if I had paid for the course, no matter what, I would have completed it. Based on my own dropout behaviour, I surmise that people value something we pay for more than something we get for free, as we may take the latter for granted.
MOOCs are also valuable to me as a teacher since I can benchmark the way in which the online course has been organised, the tools and examples used to convey difficult concepts, the assessment designs and delivery modes, etc. I can evaluate whether my course should be brought up to a higher standard. There is some need to be sure that the course being used as the benchmark is fairly recent, though. Also, I can make connections with the course facilitators and maybe even connect with others for collaborative potential that reaches beyond the course timeline. I would love to learn whether UWI has launched any MOOCs, and in which fields.
All in all, I feel that MOOCs continue to lead us into the future, allowing technology to bring us closer together, teaching, learning and collaborating in our global communities.
Marcia
Marcia your experience with the MOOC is fairly typical and in fact a burning question over the past few years has been whether we are seeing the death of MOOCs. Your question about whether UWI has or plans to have a MOOC can easily be answered in one word...NO... think of the economics. The following blog on the topic is an interesting read http://cambolc.blogspot.com/2013/05/death-of-moocs-rise-of-soocs.html
ReplyDeleteI have not used a MOOC before and I was unfamiliar with the concept before reading the article and looking at the video. I think it may be a useful tool where students have a desire for knowledge in a certain area for self improvement without hope of a certificate or recognition from their employer for career advancement. I can see it as a collaborative tool but I cannot see how it can generate income for the academic institution unless payment is for the final certification as to what Marcia eluded to.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a good philanthropic venture to improve knowledge in the world but it takes money and resources to run a course with no hope for reward.
In the past, I have signed up for a good number of MOOCs. I always start off excited by the prospect of learning something new, and would log in religiously and do the required assignments. But, somehow, as the course progresses, my interest wanes or I become too busy with work and life. I have only completed one of the courses – a Statistics course, and I stuck it out, just barely, to get ideas on course delivery, since I was preparing to teach a similar type course in terms of content.
ReplyDeleteThe principles of MOOCs are laudable. Anyone with an internet connection can be exposed to top-class curriculum, course materials and teaching – for free! But, as in my case, my level of commitment just was not high – both because it cost me nothing to sign up, and, because the reward of a ‘badge’ or ‘certificate of completion’ did very little to motivate me to finish.
While my experience does not represent a MOOC success story, I do know people who are totally committed to MOOCs. They use MOOC as a learning resource, to study topics within and outside of their area of specialisation.
So, I do agree with above comments which noted that MOOCs are not for everyone. Motivated, committed enrolees naturally reap the most benefits.
For the institutions running the MOOCs, I have often wondered the advantages and disadvantages; and the costs versus rewards they face. I came across this piece from insidehighered that gives one perspective:
https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/technology-and-learning/why-every-university-does-not-need-mooc
Shellyanne W.
Well, I had no clue what is a MOOC and I still feel like a "MOCK" :) It is interesting, but I don't see this happening in UWI. I can see the MOOC used for students to find information on a specific topic in a central location from different reliable and committed sauce.
ReplyDeleteYet another tool I feel I need to research further
I have never done a MOOC course I love the idea that it can reach many without many challenges. I can see the advantage where people will do such a programme as opposed to a traditional type course with lectures and lecturer and materials. I wonder if that is a bit ambitious to think that MOOCs can replace other types of learning strategies? How good is the MOOCs assessment process? Is it a fair system? These are all the questions that are going through my mind as I respond in this blog. Do we replace traditional type certification with a MOOC badge?
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of sharing knowledge but how fair is the assessment process.
Justin's article is good because he points out the pros and cons of this system. Not everything free is good and I believe many standards can be compromised if not careful. I am certainly not going to entirely trust a candidate who has an online badge as opposed to someone who has an actual diploma. Maybe in time things will get better standards but for now I am doubtful. As I said, I have personally never used it but I have heard other folks talk about online certification . I will have to do some more research into this area to a different perspective.
Sophia
Rajesh Response to MOOC:
ReplyDeleteI have never participated in a MOOC before, but from what I’ve read and seen from the video it has a high degree of flexibility with the delivery of the content. I’m uncertain if there is a structure at all, as the article suggests, content might be delivered based on what is convenient for the facilitator of the course. This can be very confusing for some students to follow. As such I would expect that a number of students drop out for this reason. It may simply not suit their learning style.
To me the true purpose of a MOOC would be for individuals to get a spread of knowledge rather than an in-depth understanding of a topic - to wet one’s appetite. For a person to determine if this new area warrants further study for them. Perhaps they may be thinking of a career change, and instead of enrolling for a degrees or diploma, they join a MOOC. Thus they would be able to gain a free evaluation of the topic to an extent.
I’m thinking it can also be used for one to gain a new hobby.
The fact that it is for free, doesn’t mean that the providers have to fully pay for the running of the program. Usually with ventures like these there are advertisements on each webpage, and the company gets paid to host these advertisements. So some revenue generally is received.
Regards,
Rajesh.
Rajesh there are different types of MOOCs but generally those that are offered by the IVY league schools such as MIT and Harvard are very well structured and organised with video products of a high standard. The causes of drop out in these cases tend to relate to the reasons for persons doing the MOOC in the first place e.g. updating information, learning something new but not necessarilty seeking certification.
Delete