More News about MOOCs - 10 views

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  #1 Richard Wilson on 08 Oct 13

   

  Sebastian Thrun, if no other CEO, is very optimist about MOOCs at Udacity.
  http://www.informationweek.com/education/online-learning/udacity-ceo-says-mooc-magic-formula-emer/240160169

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Sebastian Thrun, if no other CEO, is very optimist about MOOCs at Udacity. <br /> <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/education/online-learning/udacity-ceo-says-mooc-magic-formula-emer/240160169" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.informationweek.com/education/online-learning/udacity-ceo-says-mooc-magic-formula-emer/240160169</a></div>

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  #2 Jennifer Henson on 08 Oct 13

   

  Hi Richard,
  Great article! Thurn said, "What we've learned is the computer program alone, a MOOC alone is not likely to be a good educational medium for large numbers of people, except for the truly highly self-motivated. To be successful, we need people on the ground to do things, to provide educational services." This is something I've been picking up on in interviewing administrators from online high schools, too. Truly independently paced courses can allow students to get course recovery or accomplish some short-term goal if they are truly motivated. But it's not the way to truly get students learning. This quote, too, (from the author) struck me: "The idea that educational software can track student performance and adapt instruction to an individual's strengths and weaknesses is not new, but large-scale online education opens up new possibilities to analyze vast quantities of clickstream and assessment data when making those judgments." We need to be thinking about--and be honest about--the greatest strengths and weaknesses of online education. Otherwise, why bother? Poorly done, they serve as nothing better than a diploma mill. But by integrating thoughtful faculty in a scale that allows them to provide individual attention to their students, and then giving them analytical programs to help them track what their students are doing, some meaningful, personalized learning can happen online.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Hi Richard, <br /> Great article! Thurn said, "What we've learned is the computer program alone, a MOOC alone is not likely to be a good educational medium for large numbers of people, except for the truly highly self-motivated. To be successful, we need people on the ground to do things, to provide educational services." This is something I've been picking up on in interviewing administrators from online high schools, too. Truly independently paced courses can allow students to get course recovery or accomplish some short-term goal if they are truly motivated. But it's not the way to truly get students learning. This quote, too, (from the author) struck me: "The idea that educational software can track student performance and adapt instruction to an individual's strengths and weaknesses is not new, but large-scale online education opens up new possibilities to analyze vast quantities of clickstream and assessment data when making those judgments." We need to be thinking about--and be honest about--the greatest strengths and weaknesses of online education. Otherwise, why bother? Poorly done, they serve as nothing better than a diploma mill. But by integrating thoughtful faculty in a scale that allows them to provide individual attention to their students, and then giving them analytical programs to help them track what their students are doing, some meaningful, personalized learning can happen online.</div>

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  #3 Juan Saldana on 13 Oct 13

   

  I was introduced to moocs in the last incarnation of 6329, I took my first mooc and although the time constraints were a problem I found it quite enjoyable. The benefit of these moocs is their flexibility, you can take a mooc on just about any topic. I took one on science fiction literature that semester and was able to get a whole new perspective on some of my favorite classics as well as new stories. This semester I am adhoc taking one on the literature value of comics and graphic novels. I say adhoc since I got through the videos on what little down time I have this semester and don't really have thte time to do the assignments. I don't see these as the future of education, but for a student with no alternatives, they are a decent start and I think that is the point behind these moocs. Once the business men and politicians get involved they will likely lose their appeal or free status...

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">I was introduced to moocs in the last incarnation of 6329, I took my first mooc and although the time constraints were a problem I found it quite enjoyable. The benefit of these moocs is their flexibility, you can take a mooc on just about any topic. I took one on science fiction literature that semester and was able to get a whole new perspective on some of my favorite classics as well as new stories. This semester I am adhoc taking one on the literature value of comics and graphic novels. I say adhoc since I got through the videos on what little down time I have this semester and don't really have thte time to do the assignments. I don't see these as the future of education, but for a student with no alternatives, they are a decent start and I think that is the point behind these moocs. Once the business men and politicians get involved they will likely lose their appeal or free status...</div>

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