This has been an interesting online learning process. I have previously experienced more instructive multi media education programmes with learners following a timeline and directed to very specific forums for collaboration and information exchange.
The technological and philosophical concepts introduced in EDCMOOC are fascinating and enable participants to explore their intellect and creativity. Given the breakdown of participants it is no surprise that the enthusiasm and quality of the debate and contribution has been high. I wonder how many from the 40,000 will submit an assessment artefact?
While discovering and using social media platforms for self directed and collaborative learning the programme introduced too many which for me led to information management overload. For the future I would recommend you limit this to 3 including your Coursera platform. Participants can develop their own alternatives social media connections.
I have enjoyed the course but remain doubtful regarding the ultimate aim and purpose and direction of MOOC's. As the article posted on my Blog, MOOCs, are part of a discussion about the future of education, but this only has real meaning if we also examine the kind of society we want to live in. We certainly need to develop networked solutions for learning in a network society. However subject-based pedagogy, the basis of most western education systems is not capable of that.
MOOCs started as an examination of learning in a networked world with a belief that a new kind of knowledge was developing, so perhaps it has an epistemological foundation. MOOCs originally offered the possibility of designing learning which is NOT pedogically-driven and subject-based. but are now being colonised by and driven by American University comercial business models...a sort of educational and cultural imperialism seems to be underway. A bit Dystopic like DNoble's view but when profit drives change we all know where it leads. I wonder how many of the 40,000 EDCMOOCers will sign up to the £9,000-£12,000 MSc programme? ...01% = £3.6-£4.8million!! Not an unreasonable outcome in a corporate business model?
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