FINAL MOOC POST

This is an opinion  I posted on my digital artifact website http://sadoslados.wix.com/martinmooc#!what-i-think/c24vq

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?

BUILDING PARTICIPATIVE LEARNING

Great article with great links on issues around MOOCS
https://wikiquals.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/building-democratic-learning/

building Democratic learning

IS MOOC JUST A MARKETING TRICK?

 

Despite my time management I still remain behind schedule and on information overload! I plan a catch up reboot day this weekend. However I read an article and it started to grow a thought that was already brewing. 
Is this MOOC thing just one big con for the University's to funnel large amounts of hungry customers to a back sell product? It is a classic internet marketing funneling technique that has worked successfully for years!!
Added to that you have under the banner of content driven learning...an army (40,000) of researchers (sorry students) producing huge quantities of material for FREE!

So once you have all us hungry learners attracted by the offer of free learning ...we are hooked. Keep us warm through the learning and education process (remember most on this course have got high value attached to learning) Those that complete and receive positive feedback become hot and from suspects change to prospects...an offer to purchase is made.

Don't mean to be so cynical but it is a thought process that is covered in a debate that I will link you all into below. PS I am enjoying the content of the course I just find it engaging.

IN THE BEGINNING....

This is week 2 of my EDC MOOC course and already falling behind those who are going at it with Gusto. However one of the key objectives for me was to learn from the student perspective. One comment worth making is there is in my opinion too many social media platforms for information , exchange and collaboration. This makes the programme a bit overwhelming. I have decided to stick with Google plus, Facebook, Twitter (which I have reservations on due to the instantaneous nature of it) and the coursers site (which is best for me). The rest I will try to ignore as I have a weakspot for shiny buttons!