MOOC: teachers & student/learnerbenefits and realities

Inge (Ignatia) de Waard

Pre-presentation

• YouTube movie “What is a MOOC” Dave Cormier

What is een MOOC?

MOOC elements

MOOC history

Professional teacher

development

Add MOOC to class

Benefits for learners

Educationalchange and

MOOC

Share yourthoughts

What is a MOOC?

A contemporary form of online learning. Two examples:• FutureLearn platform: e.g. xMOOC• DS106 – Digital storytelling: e.g. cMOOC

FutureLearn: UK, BBC, British library…

xMOOC: transformative, content exists of videos, discussions, texts and assignments• Courses open to all• Low threshold (at times requirements stated)• Statements of participation options

Ah, a movie!

Choice:• Intro to Archeologie Portus, Rome (2min51)• Video DNA from kiwi experiment – here (4min38)• English creative writing video ordinary words for

vivid images (1min16)

DS106 – digital storytelling (a must!)

cMOOC: based on connectivism (learning theory): learners connectwith peers, objects, technology (self-regulated and distributed)• Tasks/assignments are often generic• Learners (peers) share experiences and expertise• Demands more digital skillsLink to course

Some big MOOC platforms

Specials Region URL some specifics

Alison Mobile in partsCertified learning

Europe http://alison.com/

Canvas Network More corporate North America https://www.canvas.netCoursera Norm North America https://www.coursera.org/

Signature track

EdX Merged with Google

North America https://www.edx.org/

Udacity Profiling towards vocational training

North America https://www.udacity.com/

FutureLearn Fully mobile, social learning

Europe https://www.futurelearn.com/

Iversity Looking to integrate ‘atelier’

Europe https://iversity.org/

Khan academy Pioneer, math basis

Asia https://www.khanacademy.org/

OpenLearning Actively uses

gamification

Australia https://www.openlearning.com/

P2P university Fully open North America https://p2pu.org/en/Udemy Apps North America https://www.udemy.com/

MOOC Platforms

What is a MOOC?

• Massive: everyone who wants to join can join, no limits on enrolment numbers

• Open: all the information (content and interactions) is open to all / on the Web closed eLearning

• Online: all the content and discussions happen online• Course: a stand-alone or part of training/curriculum

Participants learn in cohort (central location/deadlines) Interactions happen synchronous and asynchronousThe learning is often public, social and networked.

What distinguishes MOOC from online and mobile learning?

• Massive group size (affects facilitator role)• Attracts international learners• More learner-centered (peer interactions)• Adds to online social, networked learning • Informal, sometimes even ‘leisure’ learning• Use and guidance through learner analytics (due to massiveness)• MOOC data is often publicly available• Content: mix of Internet (OER) and self-produced content

Frequently asked question: registrer!

FutureLearn, Coursera, Canvas.net, …. • All demand registration for courses• Sometimes cloud account login (e.g. Facebook, gmail

account)• Aim: learning analytics, marketing & promo future courses

Name UsernameEmail

(activation)Password Profile

What is een MOOC?

MOOC elements

MOOC history

Professional teacher

development

Add MOOC to class

Benefits for learners

Educationalchange and

MOOC

Share yourthoughts

xMOOC model = norm

Transformative model: expert shares knowledge (sometimes w team)• Video (commentary options)• Online discussion (voluntary or mandatory)• Background or additional texts• Assignments (individual / group / peer reviews)

How to assess acquired knowledge?

• Self-assessments

• Groupwork

• Peer evaluation / grading

• Tasks

• Knowledge sharing

Credits & certificaten variëren

Verschillende opties worden geëvalueerd door onderwijsinstellingen (merendeel betalend = ROI). Enkelevoorbeelden:• MOOC2Degree• OpenBadges by Mozilla• Coursera: signature track (bedrijven)• FutureLearn (Statement of participation)

Demography of learners

Learners grow increasingly, variable reasons:• Leisure learning (cfr. Documentairies)• Personal interest (e.g. Art - MoMa, wine – degustation

online!)• Professional development• Home scholing(percentages FutureLearn: oldest learner 92 years)

What is een MOOC?

MOOC elements

MOOC history

Professional teacher

development

Add MOOC to class

Benefits for learners

Educationalchange and

MOOC

Share yourthoughts

MOOC history in a nutshell

• From 2005: sharp social media increase (YouTube, wiki’s, FB)

• CCK2008: first ‘Massive Open Online Course – over 2000 learners, internationaal) – organised by Stephen Downes & George Siemens. Based on connectivism.

• Khan Academy: math online, gratis• 2012: Artificial Intelligence course in Stanford University

(over 100.000 registered learners). Old pedagogy online.• MOOC hype, worldwide press interest

2005 CCK2008Kahn

Academy 2012

MOOC hype

What is een MOOC?

MOOC elements

MOOC history

Professional teacher

development

Add MOOC to class

Benefits for learners

Educationalchange and

MOOC

Share yourthoughts

Two main teacher benefits

• Professional development: teachers, learners

• MOOC as addition to class / curriculum

Professional development

• Increase specific knowledge within area of expertise

• Satisfy personal knowledge interest

• Look over the shoulder of other colleagues

• Potential for informele teacher group education

Indirect benefits

• Increase digital skills

• Explore and understand contemporary online learning

• Expand peer network (international teacher connect)

• Leisure learning

What is een MOOC?

MOOC elements

MOOC history

Professional teacher

development

Add MOOC to class

Benefits for learners

Educationalchange and

MOOC

Share yourthoughts

MOOC adds to class / curriculum

MOOC video or multimedia sources in classTexts or documentsFlipped classroom approach• Students look at multimedia (or look it up)• Students discuss MOOC sources

Access to MOOC content?

• Depends on platform• Agreement with organising university (intellectual

property)Norm: a few months, if you registered for that particularcourse

Flipped classroom?

Previously recorded session, with interactions between students in-class.Expand to : viewing previously provided online/digital sources, followed byclassroom interactions, and possible hands-on activity. Broader term: flipped learning . Picture: http://www.slu.edu/Images/cttl/flipped%20graphic_reinertcenter.jpg

Overview: four big parts• Learning goal and meaning

of the FC needs to beshared with students for ensured biggerunderstanding.

• Online sources are shared. To be viewed/understood(cfr homework/reflection –computer available?)

• In-class: groupwork, focus on content, understanding, difficulties, project. Peer and teacher feedback.

• Evaluation of the processby all.

1. Learning goal FC

2. Pre-class: sources

(homework)

3. Class: groupwork &

understanding

4. Post-class: evaluation

Offline parallel: field visit

Flipped classroom can be compared with a field visit.

• Museum visit, shop visit…

• Walk in the wild…

BUT: those visits can not be viewed again, where FC does have sources that can be viewed multiple times.

How do you know the students have actually accessed the resources?

Classical approach will do (with or without grades):• Provide a quiz or some questions they need to answer, and

which demand reflection (intro to class discussion)• Make sure you get the results before the class momentAdditional help for individual learning: a guiding text whichhighlights the focus and concepts of the topic/reflection.

What is een MOOC?

MOOC elements

MOOC history

Professional teacher

development

Add MOOC to class

Benefits for learners

Educationalchange and

MOOC

Share yourthoughts

Student and access?

A computer (or device) with quick internet connection (cost?)

Personal time to look at the online resources

Increase critical skills

• Develop or sharpen critical thinking

• Push towards autonomous learning

• Offer an alternative for speedy, bright students(extra curricular work)

Surplus students w learning difficulties

• Option to review material as many times as necessary(online content)– Retention and understanding increases. Repetition in a

safe environment (not in group)

• Transcripts can add to the diversity of content delivery (audio, video, text) supporting different types of students

Differences per grade & field

Which type of information can be delivered for which type of learner groups? • Capacity• Difficulty of online resources, language options• Contextual online resources: technology, science,

languages, marketing…

Interest

Technical / cognitive / mix

Knowledge

Basic / advanced

Age

Skills

Complexity

Transfer high school => college / Uni

MOOC used to bridge the digital divideJiang et al. (2014) looked at factors influencing enrollment and completion in a pre-college preparatory MOOC. University of California at Irvine (UCI) students of all preparation levels, defined by math Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score, were invited to take a Bio Prep MOOC to help them prepare for introductory biology. Students with math SAT below 550 were offered the explicit incentive of an early change to the biology major upon successful completion of the MOOC and two additional onsite courses. Their study showed that university students entering with low preparation outperformed students entering who already had the credentials to become biology majors. These findings suggest that MOOCs can reach students, even those entering college with less preparation, and have the potential to prepare them for challenging science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses.

Jiang, S., Williams, A. E., Warschauer, M., He, W., & O'Dowd, D. K. (2014). Influence of incentives on performance in a pre-college biology MOOC. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 15(5). Paper kan je hier lezen.

Self-directed learning

Self-directed learning (SDL) (e.g. in professionele MOOCs Milligan, LittleJohn, 2014), self-image, motivation and ‘Big 5 traits’ paper , Furnham, Monsen, Ahmetaglu, 2010)• Share SDL strategies with students• Provide guidelines for MOOC (communication)• Provide a clear overview of the full course, use social cognitive

constructs

What is een MOOC?

MOOC elements

MOOC history

Professional teacher

development

Add MOOC to class

Benefits for learners

Educationalchange and

MOOC

Share yourthoughts

Educational shifts due to MOOC

Lives as teachers are being influenced directly and indirectlyby MOOC technology• Globalisation of higher education (edu-shopping by

learners)• Anglification of education

But there is more!• Shift of the role of the teacher• Professional profile of teacher is changing• Digital and learning analytic skills• Technology and automation• Shift towards lifelong learning for all

The role of the teacher

Picture: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8527/8615353879_58a09c6cce_b.jpg

The teacher supports the students. This means a shift in identity.

Professional profile of teacher

Necessary skills increase: subject matter expert, but also generic skills like digital, and learning analyticskills. Just think PAR framework

Why use learner analytics?

Classic eLearning• Content feedback• Learner dataMOOC specific• Learner dashboard• Tool for design improvement• Access to more (global) data and insights• Identify social learning nodes• Identify key learners inside organization• Learner retention

Technology and automation

• Size of classes: class support needs to be reviewed(currently more assistants then teachers in MOOC => cost / labour)

• New technologies emerge: e.g. robo-readers (blogpost), good discussion to be found here here.

Shift towards lifelong learning for all

In search for a global, institutional model

Conclusion

• MOOC = just one type of online leren• MOOCs cause educational disruption, possible

reform/s• It is good to explore!

Contact me here or later

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