LxI week 4: Focus question

[Esa Bose]

Addressing the Focus question of this week,at first I would like to comment as a learner of this course. Among the Orchestration decisions taken by the course team for Learner Experience Interactions, including Top Alumni to act as moderators was an excellent move. It has given me confidence that even learners like me can go to a level higher and act as a member of the course team. Obviously the prompt replies given by them to our questions have also helped. That these moderators were also given weekly plans must have helped them in their role and eventually increased the learner's motivation since our questions were being regularly answered.

Among the Orchestration decisions for Live interactions, floating google forms was a best idea as due to some reason if a learner could not attend the live session but had some query or point to discuss, he/she could send them and get the answers later from the chat videos or transcripts which too were later on shared by the course team(which was an orchestration move as well!). That our queries were categorized and discussed was very learner friendly as well. Coming to the point where points or comments from moderators were also included in discussion was an added advantage as these moderators were learners themselves earlier, they must have felt the need which arose from learners point of view. Finally the RQs have actually helped me to sincerely reflect upon the discussions and hence helped me to learn better.  In summary As a learner I was made to feel that a learner has been given lot of importance which kept me motivated throughout the course.

Now when I look at these as a would be MOOC instructor, Obviously having alumni as moderators will a great option since not only they will provide in time feedback to learners to their queries, they will be able to give input regarding learner's wishes and wants too. Their feedback on the discussions in a week or about the current participation levels will help me orchestrate my course in a better manner.

For Live interaction purposes, I too would definitely float google forms. Not only for live interaction purposes, I believe forms could also help me collect data during the planning process or as done this course, where we were given some forms to fill before the course actually started.

Including the  important and interesting queries pointed out by Discussion Forum Moderators, Course TAs would also be a good idea, not only as it would take some burden off me but also the fact that I will be getting fresh ideas from all these people. while conducting live sessions the presence of more than one person from Course Team will surely help to conduct the session better and answer as many questions as possible. Creating RQs based on discussions will help me for summative assessment of the learners.

[Moderator Sandeep Patil]

Esa ji, 

Your post speaks volumes about the commitment with which you have attempted this MOOC. You have not only presented the highlights of Orchestration decisions of this MOOC but also presented the same that you will be doing for your own MOOC in coming times. As a matter of fact this MOOC experience has definitely paved way for innovative orchestration decisions to many of us.