Comments for techne http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog Just another blog about education, technology and learning Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:57:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on The Coursera Consortium… by a student of the world - http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207&cpage=1#comment-555 a student of the world - Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:57:37 +0000 http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207#comment-555 [...] mentioned the lack of subject variety in a comment on Jeff’s blog and he made a valid point to the quantitative data aspect. But if MOOCs are to follow the message [...] [...] mentioned the lack of subject variety in a comment on Jeff’s blog and he made a valid point to the quantitative data aspect. But if MOOCs are to follow the message [...]

]]> Comment on The Coursera Consortium… by Jeff Nugent http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207&cpage=1#comment-553 Jeff Nugent Mon, 01 Oct 2012 13:16:02 +0000 http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207#comment-553 @Lindsey Appreciate the comment. I agree that the current course offerings in the open space tend to focus on the science and math...which makes sense to me because these subject matter areas seem more ideally suited to the medium in that instruction / learning is more sequential and can be tracked through skill development (there are right / wrong answers). The Humanities have a bit more ground to cover in terms of getting the assessment and feedback pieces right. We are at the very early stage here...I suspect (hope!) that we'll see improvement over time. @Lindsey Appreciate the comment. I agree that the current course offerings in the open space tend to focus on the science and math…which makes sense to me because these subject matter areas seem more ideally suited to the medium in that instruction / learning is more sequential and can be tracked through skill development (there are right / wrong answers). The Humanities have a bit more ground to cover in terms of getting the assessment and feedback pieces right. We are at the very early stage here…I suspect (hope!) that we’ll see improvement over time.

]]> Comment on The Coursera Consortium… by Lindsey http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207&cpage=1#comment-552 Lindsey Sun, 30 Sep 2012 17:55:52 +0000 http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207#comment-552 I enjoyed David Schultz's article. Many pieces of the corporate university model align with k-12 practices as well. I am looking forward to testing out a MOOC for my project but hope course offerings expand to become less elitist and more diversified for the adult learner. Right now the majority of what is offered seems to be advanced level math and science courses, which only draws a specific demographic. Where’s the democracy? I guess more universities need to get on board? My thinking is the MOOC concept will thrive if content is broad in scope and appeals to the common man and women. I enjoyed David Schultz’s article. Many pieces of the corporate university model align with k-12 practices as well.

I am looking forward to testing out a MOOC for my project but hope course offerings expand to become less elitist and more diversified for the adult learner. Right now the majority of what is offered seems to be advanced level math and science courses, which only draws a specific demographic. Where’s the democracy? I guess more universities need to get on board? My thinking is the MOOC concept will thrive if content is broad in scope and appeals to the common man and women.

]]> Comment on The Coursera Consortium… by Jeff Nugent http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207&cpage=1#comment-551 Jeff Nugent Sat, 29 Sep 2012 14:00:25 +0000 http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207#comment-551 @Katherine, you wrote: "My concern with all this is that the students options will begin to decrease, fees will continue to go up, and curriculum content will be at the whim of profiteers." Not sure I see options decreasing as an outcome at this point...in fact it seems just the opposite is happening. We still have a model where as students we tend to take courses from one school, and follow predetermined curricular pathways to get a degree. This seems like a pretty limited set of options to me. The openEd movement (not just courses) is changing this it seems by providing access to a wide range of learning materials / resources to fit nearly any interest. I'm thinking access, adult learners, and lifelong approached to learning. All with increased options. @Katherine, you wrote: “My concern with all this is that the students options will begin to decrease, fees will continue to go up, and curriculum content will be at the whim of profiteers.”

Not sure I see options decreasing as an outcome at this point…in fact it seems just the opposite is happening. We still have a model where as students we tend to take courses from one school, and follow predetermined curricular pathways to get a degree. This seems like a pretty limited set of options to me.

The openEd movement (not just courses) is changing this it seems by providing access to a wide range of learning materials / resources to fit nearly any interest. I’m thinking access, adult learners, and lifelong approached to learning. All with increased options.

]]> Comment on The Coursera Consortium… by Katherine http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207&cpage=1#comment-550 Katherine Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:05:36 +0000 http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207#comment-550 My concern with all this is that the students options will begin to decrease, fees will continue to go up, and curriculum content will be at the whim of profiteers. Even given numerous resources for open courseware, if mergers and acquisitions is an important skillset for educational leaders, who will protect the students interests while universities are buying each other up? It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the years to come. My concern with all this is that the students options will begin to decrease, fees will continue to go up, and curriculum content will be at the whim of profiteers. Even given numerous resources for open courseware, if mergers and acquisitions is an important skillset for educational leaders, who will protect the students interests while universities are buying each other up? It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the years to come.

]]> Comment on The Coursera Consortium… by Laurie Niestrath http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207&cpage=1#comment-546 Laurie Niestrath Mon, 17 Sep 2012 01:34:29 +0000 http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207#comment-546 I would certainly be interested in hearing more about this new post and what VCU is doing in terms of their online initiative! Congratulations, Jeff! Laurie I would certainly be interested in hearing more about this new post and what VCU is doing in terms of their online initiative! Congratulations, Jeff!
Laurie

]]> Comment on The Coursera Consortium… by Jeff Nugent http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207&cpage=1#comment-545 Jeff Nugent Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:12:20 +0000 http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207#comment-545 Thanks for the comment, Jess...it is an exciting conversation to be a part of for sure. Thanks for the comment, Jess…it is an exciting conversation to be a part of for sure.

]]> Comment on The Coursera Consortium… by Jess http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207&cpage=1#comment-544 Jess Tue, 11 Sep 2012 03:36:25 +0000 http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=207#comment-544 This is exciting stuff! And I'm glad to know that VCU is on the eLearning bandwagon, as well. Speaking of which, congrats again on your new(ish) secondary post as Special Assistant to the Provost for the online initiative! :) It really is fascinating to observe this evolution of learning at the university level, as well as to see how leadership is changing as a result. I am anxious to watch the progression play out... This is exciting stuff! And I’m glad to know that VCU is on the eLearning bandwagon, as well. Speaking of which, congrats again on your new(ish) secondary post as Special Assistant to the Provost for the online initiative! :) It really is fascinating to observe this evolution of learning at the university level, as well as to see how leadership is changing as a result. I am anxious to watch the progression play out…

]]> Comment on Free as in Freedom…not Free Beer by greybeardprof http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=195&cpage=1#comment-528 greybeardprof Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:29:16 +0000 http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=195#comment-528 This is an excellent point. The plethora of on-line content gives the inquisitive mind an endless playground with no requirements or expectations other than those which are self-imposed. The problem arises when one attempts the leap to academic certification. Without the interaction required to assess competency, I believe any certification would be meaningless (or worse, instill the illusion of competency where none exists). The requirement of unbiased assessment by a qualified authority is likely to forever condemn on-line content such as MITx to self-fulfillment. Cheers. This is an excellent point. The plethora of on-line content gives the inquisitive mind an endless playground with no requirements or expectations other than those which are self-imposed. The problem arises when one attempts the leap to academic certification. Without the interaction required to assess competency, I believe any certification would be meaningless (or worse, instill the illusion of competency where none exists). The requirement of unbiased assessment by a qualified authority is likely to forever condemn on-line content such as MITx to self-fulfillment.
Cheers.

]]> Comment on Blogs for Learning and Reflective Practice? by Let the Blogging Begin! « Calculus for Life Science http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=112&cpage=1#comment-527 Let the Blogging Begin! « Calculus for Life Science Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:09:48 +0000 http://www.jeffnugent.net/blog/?p=112#comment-527 [...] I discovered this video today through a post about Blogs for Learning and Reflective Practice. [...] [...] I discovered this video today through a post about Blogs for Learning and Reflective Practice. [...]

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