tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post6436568869449506313..comments2024-02-29T03:57:00.088-05:00Comments on The Mermaid's Tale: Panic in the university!Anne Buchananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-64246575043953768502013-03-22T19:13:46.310-04:002013-03-22T19:13:46.310-04:00The current episode of our favorite radio program,...The current episode of our favorite radio program, 'In our Time', on BBC Radio 4 (downloadable or online playable) on the life of Alfred Wallace. He was one of a long list of people who didn't attend university. The more I see how stultifying the bureaucratized if not atheroclerotic environment of universities can be, the more I think the major MOOC benefit will be that the really smart, inovative people will get what they need that way, and go on to make a big impact without the proverbial sheepskin.<br /><br />If that's what happens we only have ourselves to blame....but the comfort will be that universities have been this way for most if not all of recorded history....Ken Weisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049713123559138421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-79933116979827893872013-03-22T16:09:21.416-04:002013-03-22T16:09:21.416-04:00Nice piece, Ken. I see the problem mostly one of ...Nice piece, Ken. I see the problem mostly one of framing, calling MOOCs ``courses''. In what sense, as you note, is a MOOC anything more, at best, than an animated textbook? And, any ``course'' that could be replaced by a MOOC probably deserves to be so, as a former student of mine (now a prof in Aus), Jason Tangen, points out is this recent video of (ironically) a lecture of his on MOOCs: http://vimeo.com/61091061John R. Vokeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03822243132435056442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-61622992633645701342013-03-22T15:04:58.354-04:002013-03-22T15:04:58.354-04:00Thanks. The twin dangers for universities are just...Thanks. The twin dangers for universities are just to rush into a fad imitatively, or dismissing legitimate change and ignoring it.<br /><br />There must be creative ways besides just 'me,too!' to be part of societal change.Ken Weisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049713123559138421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-20029060614115347222013-03-22T10:29:47.572-04:002013-03-22T10:29:47.572-04:00I've been following this "news" a bi...I've been following this "news" a bit. What I think is really cool are the opportunities for people who would not otherwise have access ... all over the world.<br /><br />It's so hard to guess how or in what direction things will change, but still, I don't think worry and dismay are justified (except for those with certain short-term interests).<br /><br />Another nice discussion.Hollishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788942181934895493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-33732971834507772082013-03-22T08:33:48.052-04:002013-03-22T08:33:48.052-04:00In all the hype--much of it generated by the veste...In all the hype--much of it generated by the vested interests of the MOOCs, like Coursera, it is easily forgotten that the web is absolutely chock full of video or text based lectures, courses, or infotainment. <br /><br />There is the outfit called Great Courses which presents excellent courses (these aren't free however). And universities all over the place offer online courses that you pay tuition for.<br /><br />Many of the online things that have been around don't have a time limit or a course duration (say, from May 1 to June 1) with scheduled events like tests. So they are even more convenient than MOOCs.<br /><br />The appeal of free, 'real' courses is what is being hyped and the idea that (now, for a fee!) you can get credit and certification towards degrees, is what is scaring the you-know-what out of universities.Ken Weisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049713123559138421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-54468681304854399642013-03-22T08:26:17.468-04:002013-03-22T08:26:17.468-04:00hmmm.... I'm sorry I couldn't have taken ...hmmm.... I'm sorry I couldn't have taken classes like that with an online chat room. I think often in classrooms, the shyer of us might not always speak up, or there might not be enough time for a good discussion. I'd love that kind of learning experience in my classes. However, if almost no one uses it, then even those who were initially excited by the idea won't use it because there's no interaction. But free online classes that teach just for the sake of learning, that's fun. Maybe when I retire I'll take a couple of those.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10781510687154219618noreply@blogger.com