Re: [eduMOOC] Digest for edumooc@googlegroups.com - 4 Messages in 3 Topics

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Scott Johnson

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Aug 6, 2011, 1:15:43 AM8/6/11
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Hi Osvaldo,
 
My self-assembled understanding of what qualifies as a MOOC must include the opportunity for true student participation to the level of creating, distributing and being responsible for content. The Stanford course isn't "open" because its content is entirely pre-determined, its "interaction" with the student is both top down and based on learning outcomes defined by the presenters as necessary proof of learning without opportunity for interpretation or alternate understandings that may better express the meaning of what is presented. 
 
To my mind this isn't an open course by any definition. It is free and might be worth taking for the content but it is just an institutional learning object that will not be affected by your being there. That's why they give you a certificate, to help you remember and show others you were there. 
 
Scott 

On Fri, Aug 5, 2011 at 9:03 PM, <edumooc...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/edumooc/topics

    Lisa M Lane <lisah...@gmail.com> Aug 04 10:39PM -0700 ^
     
    I started adding course outlines, but wonder whether that makes it too
    long?

     

    Scott HJ <scot...@gmail.com> Aug 05 09:44AM -0700 ^
     
    Hi Lisa,
     
    I guess length could be a problem for an encyclopaedia entry. Is there
    a utility for supplemental materials or overflow? Outlines are a
    characteristic of something being a course and seem necessary so I'd
    say go ahead. Having the same problem with references to MOOCs being
    courses, seem to be too many. Why don’t we just load the thing with
    all we find and then work backwards to essentials? My experience with
    things seeming messy is I haven't reached the point of understanding
    what I really want to say--which is why life is messy? Probably.
     
    As a random observation: I noticed when adding a link back to the
    Wikipedia entry on Digital Storytelling was that the subject stood by
    itself without needing the MOOC structure. I mean the format was Open
    and the enrolment was unlimited and it was a course but it felt like
    calling it a MOOC was extraneous as (in the world of tools) an
    "adjustable open ended wrench" gets called a "Crescent Wrench" because
    that's the most famous brand. Guess what I'm getting at is I'm
    uncomfortable that MOOCs seem to be the "property" of certain theories
    or individuals and that restricts our understanding of them.
    Scott
     

     

    Osvaldo Rodriguez <cor...@yahoo.com> Aug 05 04:26AM -0700 ^
     
    Hi All
     
    1.
    In a recent thread in EduMOOC OERu group the following was posted:
    "I also know of a MOOC on Artificial Intelligence through
    Stanford University
    (not sure who the contact is)
    May be here:
    http://www.ai-class.com/"
     
    2. I then made the following reply:
     
     
    For me its not a MOOC (Educause, Cormier and Siemens), yes very interesting. An important step beyond "the Open Courseware"
    idea.
     
     
    From what I understood in their web page the course is open to anyone to take it, but its a totally structured course.
    They follow a book (Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach by one of the teachers, US$114 in amazon) havea Syllabus, weekly exams, grading.
    It can be taken free, (all online) even if you don't belong to
    Stanford university. Its not clear how students will interact between
    themselves. 8000 people requested information.
    Interesting because it will be  Massive, Open, Online and a Course.
     
    3.
    Today the following link was posted
    "George Siemens: Stanford University does a MOOC
    http://www.elearnspace.org/blog/2011/08/04/stanford-university-does-a-mooc"
     
    4.
    I am now somehow confused. Could someone help me reason and reconcile concepts on this?
     
    Osvaldo
     
    C. Osvaldo RODRIGUEZ
    cor...@yahoo.com
     
     
    ________________________________

     


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