MOOCsScott Forbes

Faculty Commons

What is a Massive Open Online Course?

a very recent variant of online education - form of distance education

a category of online courseparticipants are distributedcourse materials dispersed

represent a departure from traditional form of internet-based distance learning

participation in a MOOC is free (usually)

Massive Open Online Courses

Originstheory

Organization

benefits

challenges

variety and number of courses

examples

Should MacEwan get onboard?

Originstheory of connectivism

Connectivismknowledge exists in the world rather than in the

head of an individual

Connectivism proposes a perspective similar to the Activity theory of Vygotsky – knowledge exists within systems accessed through people participating in activities

similarity with the Social Learning Theory of Bandura that proposes that people learn through contact

Principles of Connectivism Learning and knowledge rests in diversity of opinions.

Learning is a process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources.

Learning may reside in non-human appliances.

Capacity to know more is more critical than what is currently known

Nurturing and maintaining connections is needed to facilitate continual learning.

Ability to see connections between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill.

Currency (accurate, up-to-date knowledge) is the intent of all connectivist learning activities.

Decision-making is itself a learning process. Choosing what to learn and the meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality. While there is a right answer now, it may be wrong tomorrow due to alterations in the information climate affecting the decision.

OriginsTheory of connectivism

Term coined in 2008 by David Cormier, University of Prince Edward Island

Open online course led by George Siemens, Athabasca University

Stephen Downes, The National Research Council

“Connectivism and Connective Knowledge”repeated in 2009 and in 2011

George and Stephen

A True MOOCAggregation

Starting point for content productionContent is NOT prepared ahead of time

Remixing – associating materials created with each other and elsewhere

Re-purpose aggregated and remixed materials to suit goals of each participant

Feeding forward – sharing re-purposed ideas and content with others

MOOC Pedagogy Learning and knowledge rest in a diversity of opinions

Learning is a process of connecting specialised information sources

Learning may reside in non-human appliances

Capacity to know more is more critical than what is currently known

Nurturing and maintaining connections between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill

Currency is the intent of all connectivist learning activities

Decision making is itself a learning process. Choosing what to learn and the meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality.

OrganizationDelivery

Online only using open web resources

Courses (generally) do not have specific requirements (i.e. Open)

Do provide rough timelines in the form of weekly topics

Structure typically minimalWeekly presentations on current topicDiscussion questionsSuggested resources

Organization

Curriculum and structure emerge from participants

Posting, reflecting, sharing resource using variety of social media

May charge a fee/tuition if participant seeks accreditationCan demonstrate mastery of course material

Most MOOCs do not provide credit but may provide certificate of completion

BenefitsLearning occurs in an informal setting

Only an internet connection needed to participate

MOOCs are free

Participants do not have to be enrolled at hosting institution

Course flexibility – students attend on their schedule

Direct immersion and engagement with topic

Digital skill development

ChallengesNeed for basic digital literacy

Can be confusing to students used to strict, syllabus directed, lecture course

Students need to be self-directed learners

Lack of in person, real world socializing

Possibility of little interaction with instructor

Academic dishonesty with online exams

Potential for technical difficulties

Assessing learning – thousands of students..

Courses Change.MOOC

Creativity and Multicultural Communication

Academic Room

Coursera

edX

Udacity

Saylor Foundation Straighterline

and one you may be interested in signing up for: CFHE12

(Instructional Ideas and Technology Tools for Online Success) (link to Course Sites)

Hello everyone.

As we enter our last week of the course, we wanted to remind everyone about our fifth and last live session on Wednesday, May 30th at 4:00 p.m. EDT (-5 GMT) (Time Zone Converter) and provide some updates. We have quite a line-up planned for this last session (see below) so we hope that you can make it. Of course, if you cannot we completely understand, but encourage you to watch the recording that will be posted shortly after.

Live Session Link: https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=7&password=M.468705C45F34E62201409A9F088969Week 5: Live Session Agenda:Time (approx.) Topic/Focus Presenter3:45 PM Pre-Session Entertainment Justin Whiting & Donggil Song3:50 PM Pre-Session Polling Dr. Bonk4:00 PM Book Giveaway Dr. Bonk and TAs4:05 PM Participant Showcase Dr. Bonk and TAs4:30 PM Open Q&A on Course Content Dr. Bonk, TAs, & CourseSites4:55 PM Book Giveaway Dr. Bonk and TAs5:00 PM Break w/ Entertainment Justin Whiting & Donggil Song5:10 PM What is CourseSites? Jarl Jonas5:25 PM Open Q&A on CourseSites Dr. Bonk, TAs, & CourseSites5:45 PM Course Wrap-up Reminders Jarl Jonas5:55 PM Final Book Drawing & Song Dr. Bonk, Justin Whiting & Donggil Song

Week 1-4 SummaryTo help stimulate some thought and questions, please review the discussion/blog/wiki summary from Weeks 1-4 below prior to attending. We are working on a comprehensive document which will include all weekly themes and resources shared in the course/chat which we will make available next week.

* Weeks 1-4 Common Themes

Bonk Open Course BadgeAs we announced at the beginning of the course, participants are able to obtain a badge for participating after completing the stated requirements. To learn how to obtain your badge and/or store it within the Mozilla Open Badge Backpack visit our YouTube tutorial at: http://youtu.be/NAcFRjF7XJc. Do not forget the requirements in the Orientation as well!

Course EvaluationThank you to all of those who have taken the time to provide valuable feedback as we've progressed. We'd like to hear from as many of you as possible and would like to ask that you complete the course evaluation now available in Week 5. The survey should take you just a few minutes to complete and will help us further shape future open course opportunities.

This is Not GoodbyeWhile the course will 'officially' conclude this week, please remember that the course will remain open indefinitely for you to review resources and continue conversations with those you've connected. Additionally, be on the lookout for further learning opportunities. We plan to provide further learning opportunities in our open course series to help us all further our educational impact.

Curtis J. Bonk, Ph.D. Curt is Professor of Instructional Systems Technology in the School of Education at Indiana University.

Should MacEwan University offer a MOOC?

Expand access to knowledge?

Public good

Brand our institution in an area of excellence

Market ourselves overseas

Develop international reputation

Promote exceptional faculty

Last words….Dr. Terry Anderson,

Canadian Research Chair

http://change.mooc.ca/(Play from 29:40 – 35:54