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I don't think MOOCS are the solution unless utilized in schools. The role of a school teacher working along with a MOOC would be more motivational and disciplin

I don't think MOOCS are the solution unless utilized in schools. The role of a school teacher working along with a MOOC would be more motivational and disciplinary, which is what most teachers seem to specialize in anyway. Separate the content from the distribution. Only problem is when every student is learning exactly the same things and having no room for thinking out of the box, but again that pretty much already happens... Maybe even let studebs choose their own MOOCs from a list so that their education is mostly based in interest and is self guided?

madcaptenor 8y ago
So basically the MOOC plays the role of the textbook.
- heurist 8y ago
  Not just the textbook, but the teacher. The current teacher role will be supplementary and act more like a psychologist or counselor in keeping students on track, providing more one-on-one support, encouraging movement and release of physical energy, guiding students toward their own goals rather than dictating requirements, helping students recognize the value of learning, sending disruptive students to a separate (possibly more physically oriented) workspace, recognizing and helping students through mental health and other issues. Using MOOCs, content can be swapped out like battery packs. The counseling role is uniquely human and can become much deeper service than is currently available to students.
anonymous5133 8y ago
IMO, I think MOOCs will be the future of education going forward. The simple fact that a MOOC can deliver on-demand education for basically nothing on a per-student basis is significant. You are looking at MOOCs based on what they are now, which I agree, are generally low quality, not comprehensive and lack sufficient tools for students to self-study. Overtime, these issues will be worked out. New tools will be created that will allow MOOCs to deliver higher quality of education. I could even see MOOCs being superior to classroom education because a MOOC has the added benefit of having computer based algorithms which could be designed to analyze student data and adapt the course or give precise help to the student on-demand. I think solutions could be created to solve the "lack of motivation" issue.
- heurist 8y ago
  What solutions though? Students, especially kids, still need some kick in the butt to actually do the work required to learn. I don't see MOOCs ever accomplishing that unless someone somehow finds a way to make an addictive and legitimately educational computer game that students are REQUIRED to play. Or some medication that helps students focus and absorb information without ruining their brains. I agree MOOCs can deliver superior quality education, but it will be a long time before they are motiviating in their own rights. And a lot of motivation in school comes from being near peers and having human connection with teachers and other supervisors. MOOCs fail that requirement almost by definition.
- j45 8y ago
  MOOCs in their current incarnation of recorded lectures will only go so far, because the delivery method is anchored in the past. MOOCs need to evolve. Many are just using the same pattern (Video/Question) that has been around since 2001. It's ridiculous, especially when creating video content is expensive, let alone updating it quickly enough across a plethora of topics. MOOCs, or a better solution must support 30% of learning that occurs inside a classroom, and 70% of the informal learning that occurs outside the classroom for the same student. Very few systems are paying attention to how students are actually learning today in academic environments - it's pretty interesting how large the disconnect is.

madcaptenor 8y ago

So basically the MOOC plays the role of the textbook.

heurist 8y ago
Not just the textbook, but the teacher. The current teacher role will be supplementary and act more like a psychologist or counselor in keeping students on track, providing more one-on-one support, encouraging movement and release of physical energy, guiding students toward their own goals rather than dictating requirements, helping students recognize the value of learning, sending disruptive students to a separate (possibly more physically oriented) workspace, recognizing and helping students through mental health and other issues. Using MOOCs, content can be swapped out like battery packs. The counseling role is uniquely human and can become much deeper service than is currently available to students.

anonymous5133 8y ago

IMO, I think MOOCs will be the future of education going forward. The simple fact that a MOOC can deliver on-demand education for basically nothing on a per-student basis is significant. You are looking at MOOCs based on what they are now, which I agree, are generally low quality, not comprehensive and lack sufficient tools for students to self-study. Overtime, these issues will be worked out. New tools will be created that will allow MOOCs to deliver higher quality of education. I could even see MOOCs being superior to classroom education because a MOOC has the added benefit of having computer based algorithms which could be designed to analyze student data and adapt the course or give precise help to the student on-demand. I think solutions could be created to solve the "lack of motivation" issue.

heurist 8y ago
What solutions though? Students, especially kids, still need some kick in the butt to actually do the work required to learn. I don't see MOOCs ever accomplishing that unless someone somehow finds a way to make an addictive and legitimately educational computer game that students are REQUIRED to play. Or some medication that helps students focus and absorb information without ruining their brains. I agree MOOCs can deliver superior quality education, but it will be a long time before they are motiviating in their own rights. And a lot of motivation in school comes from being near peers and having human connection with teachers and other supervisors. MOOCs fail that requirement almost by definition.
j45 8y ago
MOOCs in their current incarnation of recorded lectures will only go so far, because the delivery method is anchored in the past. MOOCs need to evolve. Many are just using the same pattern (Video/Question) that has been around since 2001. It's ridiculous, especially when creating video content is expensive, let alone updating it quickly enough across a plethora of topics. MOOCs, or a better solution must support 30% of learning that occurs inside a classroom, and 70% of the informal learning that occurs outside the classroom for the same student. Very few systems are paying attention to how students are actually learning today in academic environments - it's pretty interesting how large the disconnect is.