As noted above I spent the day reading about MOOCS and walking the dog in the snow. Both projects seem somehow circular. After reading the following:
- Luke Waltzer, “The CUNY Online BA,” Cac.ophony.org, December 5, 2012. The comments are meatier than the post: http://cac.ophony.org/2006/12/05/the-cuny-online-baccalaureate/
- Andrew Ng, “Learning from MOOCs,” Inside Higher Ed, January 24, 2013.http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2013/01/24/essay-what-professors-can-learn-moocs.
- Thomas Friedman, “Revolution Hits the Universities,” New York Times, January 27, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/opinion/sunday/friedman-revolution-hits-the-universities.html.
- William G. Thomas, “The MOOC Bubble: Where Do We Go From Here?” January 28, 2012, http://railroads.unl.edu/blog/?p=967.
- Clay Shirky, “Napster, Udacity, and the Academy,” Clay Shirky, November 12, 2012. http://www.shirky.com/weblog/2012/11/napster-udacity-and-the-academy/.
- Aaron Bady, “Questioning Clay Shirky,” Inside Higher Ed, December 12, 2012. http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2012/12/06/essay-critiques-ideas-clay-shirky-and-others-advocating-higher-ed-disruption.
- Maria Bustillos, “Venture Capital’s Massive, Terrible Idea For The Future Of College,” The Awl, January 31, 2013. http://www.theawl.com/2013/01/venture-capitals-massive-terrible-idea-for-the-future-of-college.
(this is just half the ‘assigned readings’ for this week, praps I’ll read the rest tomorrow).
After reading Shirky’s piece I was compelled by his argument that MOOCS might at least be equivalent if not superior to the typical large lecture hall format. But I have since returned to near my original position that MOOCS can’t provide the interpersonal connections and experiences that make learning dynamic and exciting to me.
For example, last semester I graded nearly 100 undergrad papers. Although I did my best to explain each comment, many students still needed to meet with me and discuss specific structural and conceptual comments. Perhaps this can be done online, but somehow track changes came up short. It was only when a student and I sat across from each other and reviewed each comment that I noted a look of understanding that was often reflected by improvements in their next paper.
In addition, there are interpersonal aspects of sharing a space with other learners that I’ll address in the next post.
On another note after nearly three hour long walks in the blizzard with Boomers she too has come full circle and is almost due again.
High point?
Confronting Riverside’s Abominable Snowman:
