Learning Journal #2 - MOOCs Reading MOOCs: What Part of Learning Goes on Where and How?

by Marilla Svinicki at the University of Texas at Austin got me thinking. What exactly is an MOOC? A MOOC is a massive open online course designed to make high level education available widely at a very low cost (Svinicki, 2012). I had to ask myself if I had ever taken one and I dont believe I had at HCC, UMBC or UMUC but may have on-the job. Svinicki makes five very significant points about learning in the paper: 1) Learning involves a focus on key concepts in a topic; 2) A connection to prior knowledge; 3) Actively processing and applying information; 4) Receiving appropriate feedback that either reinforces or redirects their comprehension; and 5) A common community within which learners share their processing of information (Svinicki, 2012). So, what exactly is massive? Are we talking hundreds, thousands, or tens-of-thousands of people? Either way, how can we teach so many people the same thing at the same time? Since I have never taken an MOOC, Im not really in a position to give an informed opinion; however, I dont really think that we can, or, at the very least, with any real level of success, achieve learning with an MOOC. It would seem to me that this delivery method is more like the Postal Service - the curriculum is dropped off and the receiver does what they will with it. With that large of an audience, there is no way that any cohesive group of teachers can have a true, measurable level of direction. I believe that teaching is more than transmitting facts to the masses its a personal comprehension of concepts WITH experience PLUS the personality, character and charisma to communicate those concepts with a level of confidence and enthusiasm that ultimately inspires interest in the learners and results in their successful understanding and use of those concepts. There can be no doubt that Distance Education and On-Line Learning remove many of these elements but I believe that we, as educators, can still accomplish this level of success with creative use of multimedia. Considering what all might be included in an MOOC, there must be an active processing of incoming information. A little like our class so far, so much information is made available in so many different directions that end users can become overwhelmed. After taking six on-line classes, I still have a concern regarding the volume of information imparted to a learner in short order, which, in my opinion, can be frightening and ultimately, discouraging. Even with a syllabus and course guidelines, links and references contain other links and references that redirects focus and the student gets lost. This is where education and all communication breaks down a disconnect that results in confusion. Somehow, I think an MOOC just might fall into that process. References Svinicki, M. (2012, December 23). MOOCs: What part of learning goes on where and how?

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