Discussion Reflections on Learning with MOOCs

[Duke]

Not really, but it gives me an idea of the people taking the course. It looks like the knowledge, drive and background of students is far too diverse to create a coherent community, don't you think?

I agree. Nothing ever seems to build into a true community which is a shame. I believe it is a lack of forum management that is the primary reason behind this.

 

[Duke]

 

[MDH]

E-learning is definitely on the up.

 

[Nina]

Asia is the one to watch.

 

[MattB]

Georgia Institute of Technology is offering an online master’s program in computer science.

The program offers MOOC-like course videos and assessments supported by assistants who work directly with students. The goal is to create a low-cost master’s degree: $7,000 for the three-year program. It claims to be just as good as the on-campus equivalent for a fraction of the cost.

Would you sign up for a program like this?

 

[Duke]

Do you know if it has been officially approved?

 

[Carolyn]

MOOCs are renowned for high drop-out rates. If you're beginning to lose interest in your MOOC and you're thinking of quitting, here are a few tips to keep you hanging on in there:

1. Remember why you enrolled in the first place - was it to improve your chances at getting that dream job, or to improve your uni application? Was it just to learn something new? Whatever the reason, something important enough made you choose that course, so try revisiting those motivating factors and you may relight your enthusiasm.
2. Manage your time carefully - working on your MOOC won't be the only thing going on in your life and fitting in the necessary hours of study can become a problem. Decide on a time slot in your day/week which will be MOOC time, and stick to it.
3. Don't isolate yourself: MOOCs are very different to classroom based courses, and learners can sometimes feel alone and isolated with just their PC for company. Try interacting with fellow students and instructors on the forums. Don't be afraid to ask questions and comment on other people's posts. The more you interact, the more likely you will complete the course successfully.
4. Use the support materiel: Most MOOC instructors will recommend reading materials or links to relevant research or information. Take the time do do this extra research and reading as this will not only increase your knowledge on the topic, but it will add to your overall enjoyment and motivation.
5. If it gets too much, take a break - if the workload gets too much to balance, then stop to have a breather. There's no point playing catch-up all the time and putting too much pressure on yourself as it will end up being counterproductive. The beauty of MOOCs is that they usually come round again or they're self-paced, so if it's important to you, you can always take it up again when things aren't quite so hectic.

 

[Nina]

On paper, this all looks very straight forward. Of course, we'd all love to follow these guidelines, but taking a course online requires a lot of self discipline and motivation. If the course isn't engaging enough, it becomes very hard to keep motivated. If you lose interest in a course, my advice would be to shop around for one that you find more captivating. There's no point wasting your precious time on a course that you're not fully engaged in because the chances are you won't finish it anyway.

 

[MattB]

Use the support materiel: Most MOOC instructors will recommend reading materials or links to relevant research or information. Take the time do do this extra research and reading as this will not only increase your knowledge on the topic, but it will add to your overall enjoyment and motivation.

Often the recommended reading is material written by the course instructor. It's a great way to promote a textbook, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's any good.

 

[Bluebeard]

It claims to be just as good as the on-campus equivalent for a fraction of the cost.

If this is really the case, then it's a no-brainer. I'd be interested to know what the feedback is like.

 

[BMint]

Do you know if it has been officially approved?

It claims to be fully accredited.

 

[Duke]

This screenshot is taken from the Udacity website showing a comparison of the degree course and the online version. If the assessment isn't the same, I'm doubtful the online version can be considered to be an "equivalent" of the campus based program.

 

[Susan]

Have you ever taken an online course because you've been in an unusual location? Like an oil rig, a ship, a desert?
It would be great to hear about your experiences.

 

[Duke]

"Ankit Khandelwal set out to create his own educational path from May 2012 to June 2014. Khandelwal crafted his online course of study from leading institutions like Yale, MIT and Carnegie Mellon University. His story is inspirational and begs us all to take a closer look at our own efforts to attain greatness.
Enjoy!
Rod"

 

[MDH]

 

[Jaffa]

 

[wilko dijkhuis]

Also have a look at this degree of freedom
. . . Degree of Freedom [a] One Year BA project, which involved trying to learn the equivalent of a BA in just twelve months using only MOOCs and other forms of free learning
. . . (not only a great project, but also a source of podcast interviews with some of the movers and shakers of the MOOC revolt.)

If you are really serious about designing your own destiny this is a must read (go beyond MOOCs).

 

[Sudhir Pansal]

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[Carolyn]

• Instructional design quality of 76 randomly selected MOOCs was assessed.

• Quality was determined from first principles, using a Course Scan instrument.

• The majority of MOOCs scored poorly on most instructional design principles.

• Most MOOCs scored highly on organisation and presentation of course material.

• Although most MOOCs are well-packaged, their instructional design quality is low.

For access to the full article, go to http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036013151400178X

 

[Carolyn]

Article by Christopher Pappas
"In this article I'll discuss about the various ways that you can use YouTube to create collaborative and powerful eLearning courses. The key to tapping into the power of YouTube is to know how to effectively integrate it into your eLearning strategy."

http://elearningindustry.com/8-tips...arning?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=linkedin