MOOCs have been around for three years, marked by the release of a Stanford University class on Artificial Intelligence. Over 180,000 students signed up for the class, but did this really start a revolution in education? If you look at the 8 million students who signed up for MOOCs, there is evidence to the contrary. Research shows that only ½ of the students who signed up for the class, accessed or watched even one lecture video. The completion rate was only 4%, albeit that is 320,000 people who completed courses. However, most of the people who signed up, already had college degrees. This shows that the learning community has yet to accept MOOCs as an option.
Online learning in general, the author notes, has solved a problem of access to education. However, the problem with online courses, in general, is engagement. Research still has not determined whether or not online learning is more effective than classroom learning. The author notes such distractions as Netlfix being a click away. But can we reach the goal of affordable online education? The author notes that strides are being made to provide online students with mentorship, retention marketing, and new forms of learn-by-doing.
I really like the mentorship, as online learning can seem a bit streamlined and impersonal. By providing teacher praise and student specific constructive feedback, motivation levels in the student may increase. I also really like the idea of new forms of learn-by-doing. Online courses seem to expect that the student must be able to learn by watching videos, reading, and taking tests. In this day and age, if that was all a teacher was doing that teacher would be rejected by his peers and administrators. How can we make online courses more interactive The author suggests tools like Minecraft for education or Oculus. Those are both a good place to start. My favorite quote from this article is:
“The future of online learning isn’t about accessibility: it’s about taking what we already know works offline and combining it with what you can only do online to create the most engaging experience. “
I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. This is what online learning in our district should look like. It is great that teachers have started to post their lectures and model examples online. What needs to happen is teachers posting review games, interactives, online chats with students, and so on. Yes, Desmos would be an interactive tool! There needs to be more that students can interact with and respond to, rather than the multiple choice test at the end of a video.
In an article I read, they discuss MOOCs as a possible solution for the amount of student debt for the next generation. It discussed that the amount of debt someone ends up with after their program should not exceed the first year salary of the job they get after coming out of school. It stated that many 20 and 30 year olds are not able to buy houses, cars, start families, etc. because of their massive school debts and it's affecting the economy. It also talked about how MOOCs are just an access point, but it's up to the individual to make it happen.
ReplyDeleteI am blown away by the 8 million number from your article, that is a LOT! But if you look at regular college courses, think how many students drop out after the first week? If you have something that more people can access, I can see the drop out rate being higher, but maybe not 96% :)
“The future of online learning isn’t about accessibility: it’s about taking what we already know works offline and combining it with what you can only do online to create the most engaging experience. “ I love this, perfect!! We have talked about this idea a lot in class. It is challenging to do, and that is why it is not available in many places! While talking about our uses of technology in class, it makes me want to have all of you as teachers and go through the schooling system all over again! Your use of technology excited and inspires me, just like this type of online education would. The possibilities of engagement and online learning are endless if this type of educating is done correctly and is readily available.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons I am doing this cohort is because I know online classes aren't for me. In my past experience, I have seen how there is a huge lack of engagement, as you mentioned. If we could alter the online experience to mimic a more personal setting, we would be good to go!
I agree if MOOCs want to be effective in education that have to find a way to be more engaging. I think post-high school world is often times content with lecture especially when dealing with an extremely large class size. Students are paying for the class or not in MOOCs case, but the assumption is that students want to be there. This does not allow for sub par teaching practices, it should actually inspire better ones due to the number of students that you can impact. Technology is a great way to reach the masses through engaging visuals, collaboration, interactive apps (such as Desmos! props to you Tyler) and yes videos in the proper context.
ReplyDeleteI took 3 online classes this summer and there was a lot of reading which was ok as long as the material wasn't difficult. The feedback is also delayed with online learning as well. I agree with Marisa, while it is convenient to take a class in your pajamas, it is much more effective to sit in a room with people face-to-face and have instant feedback about ideas and concepts.
I agree with the article and the three posts. Marisa nailed it with her quote.
ReplyDeleteMy quote from the article would be "However, the problem with online courses, in general, is engagement. Research still has not determined whether or not online learning is more effective than classroom learning."
No matter what the medium, teaching is still teaching and that means you must have your students engaged.
Tyler, I think this is definitely the way of the future. MOOCs are ways that we can have our alternative ed program work better. If each teacher were to post their lessons, lectures, etc., online our students would be able to complete the curriculum in an alternate environment that best suits their needs.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that public schools have to take into consideration is parents. Just in the last 10 days, the 'mom brigade' has been active on social media bashing educators in our district for use of technology as the main medium for classwork, presentation and homework. Because they do not understand it, they are rebelling against it, especially if their Johnny isn't getting perfect grades like he or she has always gotten. I expect if you went to the upcoming board meeting, you will hear from them as they are organizing a complaint group to go complain about how their children are being taught by the computer and 'why do they even pay teachers?' I think this will be an issue for quite a while concerning any sort of MOOC within public schools, no matter how applicable and helpful they really are.
However, I personally think MOOCs have valid uses and application in all aspects of education from pre-school all the way through higher education. I would love it if we all could get certificates, expand our teaching credentials, and even learn new skills all from our own homes, in our pajamas. Could you imagine if we were able to easily take a few courses on another subject, and then become certified to teach it? These MOOCs could really revolutionize how teachers learn and become more skilled. I think it needs to be implemented though in a systematic way because change for parents is difficult.