3 ms·
We can separate the debate in a few distinct classes: 1. Superstar class - Excellent researcher and excellent teacher - A good MOOC is not a threat but an oppo
by wjnc 14y ago
We can separate the debate in a few distinct classes:
1. Superstar class - Excellent researcher and excellent teacher - A good MOOC is not a threat but an opportunity for you to bring even more understanding to your students. Or the superstar hosts his own MOOC.
2. I'd rather do research class - Excellent researcher, but not excellent teacher - A good MOOC is not a threat but an opportunity for you to spend less time teaching, while you can still focus on teaching about your own research as a plus. Or only teach MS and PhD-level courses, where the market in courses would be too specialised for MOOCs.
3. I'd rather teach class - Not excellent researcher, but excellent teacher - A good MOOC is not a threat but an opportunity for you to get extra and world-class material to your students, while leveraging your teaching skills for that personal touch.
4. I'd rather just do nothing - Not an excellent researcher, but not an excellent teacher either - A good MOOC is a big threat to your business model. You won't cut it research-wise, so your in the C-league of universities, but the MOOC will make your failings as a teacher a lot more obvious. A good class is just a few mouse clicks away for students, and why pay if you can get it for free?
Of course there is a signalling effect at work as well. But I find it hard to imagine you would get much signalling from a school filled with class-4 teachers. Both you and your future employers know what universities and colleges are class-4.
The future that Peter J. Hadreas deplores is the one where class-4 disappears and "cheap" education is met by class-3 educators. It's a background fight IMHO. And one where students are the winners. The best students still get to go to the best universities. But all the other students at least get lectured by the best teachers, and get taught by enthusiastic teachers instead of bored B-level researchers.