Digital Learning online task - Open education - MOOCs by Monika https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation This is a working space for those of you exploring Open education and MOOCs. Please remember to add your name to any posts you make. en-us 2016-05-20 20:46:34 UTC 2025-11-08 01:19:34 UTC hello@padlet.com http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-27OzoLLVCUU/VE6jXGjiPFI/AAAAAAAAAhY/8Qk169hHexA/s1600/1212_04-mooc-01.png Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics (KG) kgk https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138991380 A recent study has found that conventional lectures can be ineffective because they do not meet the expectations of modern students.

Even though it is not explored in this paper, this deficiency could potentially be addressed by online platforms, such as MOOCs.]]> 2016-11-21 03:34:16 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138991380 The pedagogical foundations of massive open online courses (KG) kgk https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138991701 A positive review of MOOCs and their potential, which tries to view these systems, and their students, from different perspectives.

Monika: This is a good article treating on the subject of MOOC pedagogy. I like it that the authors are questioning the innovative aspect of MOOC. Is the pedagogy really that innovative? It's interesting to look into the original MOOC designed by Siemens and Downes. It was Connectivist, and had somehow different pedagogical characteristics than what we see today.]]> 2016-11-21 03:39:30 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138991701 MOOCs and the Funnel of Participation (KG) kgk https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138991981 A paper on the "elephant in the room", i.e. the participation and completion rates of MOOCs. The embedded data can be used to offer counterarguments on the benefits of online learning, focusing on the general lack of personalised tutoring (due to class volume) which makes some students give up.]]> 2016-11-21 03:44:01 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138991981 Tuned models of peer assessment in MOOCs (KG) kgk https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138992468 A paper that aims to address the issue of students being disappointed by the feedback they are receiving from peer markers. Even partially resolving this problem, could possibly encourage more students to continue their online courses, hopefully until the end.]]> 2016-11-21 03:50:47 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138992468 Massive Open Online Course - Notable Providers (KG) kgk https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138992647 A user-maintained list of notable MOOCs (from Wikipedia). This link should be used for reference only.]]> 2016-11-21 03:53:36 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138992647 MOOCs by The Complete University Guide (KG) kgk https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138992781 A comparison of UK, and global, MOOCS, with useful information about e-learning, as well as any universities providing the content (and/or certificates) for each system.]]> 2016-11-21 03:55:07 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138992781 Oxford announces its partnership with edX and its first MOOC (KG) kgk https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138993075 A few days ago, Oxford University announced that they will be partnering with edX in order to offer certain courses online.

This could potentially urge more UK universities to engage with this new, digital and globalised, approach to teaching and learning.]]> 2016-11-21 03:58:15 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138993075 Who’s Benefiting from MOOCs, and Why (KG) kgk https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138993273 A really interesting article from the Harvard Business Review on MOOCs and their pros & cons.

It offers useful data/figures, as well as primary and secondary information which provide a positive view on the discussion regarding the benefits of these systems.]]> 2016-11-21 04:00:50 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138993273 CodeCombat - Learn how to code by playing a game (KG) kgk https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138993845 A different approach to massive online learning: "gamified" lessons. Students are asked to play a game which requires programming skills in order to advance to the next stage.

These "gamifications" techniques are very convenient when applied to online systems, since most young students are probably already accustomed to playing games on their computer and/or other smart devices.

Monika: This is interesting since gamification is another trend in TEL. How appropriate do you think it is for your subject and Higher Education in general?]]> 2016-11-21 04:09:22 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138993845 Bill Gates on MOOCs @Davos (KG) kgk https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138994217 The former CEO of Microsoft on the lack of success of MOOCs, but also on the hidden potential that lies within peer collaboration and assessment.

Gates argues that the interactivity online environments offer can be taken advantage of, in order to take conventional learning to new directions.]]> 2016-11-21 04:14:51 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/138994217 HEA research suggests satisfied MOOC students https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/145833094 This paper by the Higher Education Authority reports on in-depth interviews conducted with students of various ages at the University of Southampton who completed MOOC courses. Students praised the flexibility, the lack of fees, the social aspects and variety of tasks used in MOOC learning. This was interesting but I think it would be interesting to hear from students who dropped out of MOOC courses too. (Posted by Mark Pope)]]> 2017-01-08 00:03:12 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/145833094 Prof Christina Wassen argues that key benefits of online learning are likely to be lost in MOOCs https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/145833255 Prof Wassen points out how education literature stresses that learning is 'social' and that this can take place through three kinds of presence:- 
  • Cognitive presence, which is the collaborative exploration and construction of ideas;
  • Social presence, the cohesion, trust, and open communication that develop within a community of learners; and
  • Teaching presence, the instructor’s facilitation of the group’s learning process
She argues that only cognitive presence is facilitated through a MOOC.  I would agree with her, but the HEA paper I just uploaded suggests otherwise. See Wassen's blog here:-
http://ethnographymatters.net/blog/2014/02/18/demystifying-moocs-an-eye-opening-ethnographic-study-of-online-education/ (Posted by Mark Pope)

]]> 2017-01-08 00:13:01 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/145833255 MOOCs in medical education miliniskristijonas https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/146252061  
The article explored the role of MOOCs in medical education. Slightly outdated article judging by the tone of optimism it has. I read with interest a post by KG on obstacles MOOC is facing. I think particularly in medicine, where quality assurance is paramount and face-to-face sessions are key for becoming a doctor, MOOCs will serve mainly as a good source of learning for pre-med/pre-clinical studies only. (posted by K. Milinis)

]]> 2017-01-10 14:22:30 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/146252061 Problems with MOOCs miliniskristijonas https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/146258105  
MOOCs boast to reach large auditoriums across the world, but the problem is that very few actually complete the courses and it questionable what practical implications the completion of course has on student's future employment. I am starting to think of MOOCs as an example of 'ecological fallacy' - it appears beneficial on the population level, but might have little use at the individual level. ]]> 2017-01-10 14:38:04 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/146258105 Hi, this is my first post jr3816 https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/146942979 Being a novice to Digital learning I am taking my first exciting step into the world of MOOCs. I know about this as my daughter's teacher was talking to the class about signing up for a MOOC. The teacher said it may look good on their 'CV'. This gave the whole thing a feeling of tick boxing for the sake of it. My daughter engaged in a MOOC she felt would be interesting - she participated reasonably well, and got something out of it - at the end of the course, she realised she had not signed off the sections as she went through. In the end, she just clicked back and signed them all off again. 
Then I was thinking...call me cynical, but what would stop anyone just singing on, clicking through, then printing out a nice new certificate at the end?]]> 2017-01-12 22:42:46 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/146942979 MOOC List jr3816 https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/146944483 https://www.mooc-list.com/

I have been searching up on the different types of MOOCs available so I came across this rather too comprehensive list.
I am very impressed by the number of prestigious universities offering MOOCs.]]> 2017-01-12 22:57:48 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/146944483 MOOCs: A Systematic Study of the Published Literature 2008-2012 jr3816 https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/147211498 http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1455/2531
I really liked this article which I found on-line, as it has a clear and concise summary of the history of MOOCs and the categorisations of MOOCs. It reviews the development of literature around MOOCs and how this has been rapidly increasing. It also presents themes identified in the literature, such as connectivism, dangers, learning experience and ethics,
 ]]> 2017-01-15 00:13:40 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/147211498 A Systematic Review of the Socio-Ethical Aspects of Massive Online Open Courses jr3816 https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/147211640 http://www.eurodl.org/?p=archives&sp=full&article=670
The previous article I posted touched on the ethical dimension of MOOCs and I was curious to know what this meant. I found this article, which describes aspects such as equality and diversity, and also the potential commercial motivations for setting up MOOCs by institutions, and collaboration with the private / commercial sectors.]]> 2017-01-15 00:23:29 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/147211640 Khan Academy (CC) https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/147784776 This a really engaging talk by Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy. He tells the story of how he developed this amazing program starting with helping tutor his cousins. It summarises some of the core principles of MOOCs but is perhaps actually a more suitable resource for Flipped Learning.]]> 2017-01-18 12:37:36 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/147784776 Open Education (CC) https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/147785890 This is more of a reflection on Open Education that occurred to me when I started reading one of the other papers posted here on MOOCs. 
At primary school I wanted to learn French, but this subject wasn't offered (it was a small school in New Zealand). So my amazing teacher arranged for me to study French by correspondence. This was an incredible opportunity and I continued with this for a couple of years before starting high school and continuing learning French through to first year at university. I learned some French during my correspondence course, but there were certainly a lot of educational features that this process lacked. Today I brush up on my French using Duolingo, an Open Education website (and app) that I believe to be an amazing educational resource. The learning style; repetition, immersion, etc. is highly relevant; it is fun and addictive and has competitive elements (sometimes my husband and I compete against each other). I suspect my (5yr old) son will start to use this programme in the next couple of years and this excites me immensely. Open Education is a resource, that for me as a child was unimagined, but is now a reality and I believe it will further the education of millions around the world.]]> 2017-01-18 12:42:30 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/147785890 My reflections on doing a MOOC (CC) https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/147788001 I completed a MOOC last year, it was an edX course called "Teams 101". I throughly enjoyed the experience and learned a lot. I was highly motivated to complete the MOOC as I believed that the subject was important to me in my job and in general, it was developed by the university where I did my PhD and we are currently collaborating with the developers on another project. It took me longer than the expected time to complete but I did it over a much shorter time period as I was enjoying it and wanted to see it through. It involved two small assignments which were peer marked. Once I had submitted my assignments, I was given others' assignments to evaluate. They were of poor quality; the English/grammar/content was poor; one was pulled straight from a book available online; and one was a sentence about spinach (yes, spinach). At the time I found this very disappointing and obviously this did not aid my learning at all. But the feedback I received on my assignments was constructive and useful and so I was able to learn a lot from this aspect. I have started two other MOOCs, and have not got past the first lesson on either. As much as I would love to do many MOOCs, the reality is that I don't have time. I'm sure I will do more in the future though, and I look forward to these experiences.]]> 2017-01-18 12:52:09 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/147788001 Online Learning at Research-Intensive Universities charlotte_clark https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/148105618 This paper was referenced in the HEA document below and I noticed that Simone Buitendijk (our new Vice Provost (Education)) was one of the authors. This paper sets out specific recommendations for Universities in terms of strategies to approach online education.]]> 2017-01-19 15:08:35 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/148105618 3 sources monikapazio https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/148249717 Hello everybody, it is now time to choose 3 sources that you want others to have a look at. Any suggestions?

]]> 2017-01-19 22:20:04 UTC https://padlet.com/monikapazio/openeducation/wish/148249717