Comments on: Mass revolution or mass con? Universities and open courses http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/12/18/mass-revolution-or-mass-con-universities-and-open-courses/ now with extra source Wed, 22 May 2013 23:01:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Joel http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/12/18/mass-revolution-or-mass-con-universities-and-open-courses/comment-page-1/#comment-232578 Joel Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:28:26 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/?p=338399#comment-232578 I'm currently taking the "Experimental Genome Science" course on Coursera. It's quite good - a very technical subject, but each week we have a paper to review, and a fair bit of feedback on how we're doing with understanding the theory on the quizzes. It's very much a thing of getting out what you put in - if you do listen to the lectures, do the assignments, read the extra material, you're going to get a great deal out of it. I do think that this provides a type and style of learning that would be unavailable elsewhere. Even though many of those who might be interested will not put the effort in, for those who do - this sort of resource being available is a wonderful thing. I’m currently taking the “Experimental Genome Science” course on Coursera. It’s quite good - a very technical subject, but each week we have a paper to review, and a fair bit of feedback on how we’re doing with understanding the theory on the quizzes. It’s very much a thing of getting out what you put in - if you do listen to the lectures, do the assignments, read the extra material, you’re going to get a great deal out of it.

I do think that this provides a type and style of learning that would be unavailable elsewhere. Even though many of those who might be interested will not put the effort in, for those who do - this sort of resource being available is a wonderful thing.

]]> By: Gavin Moodie http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/12/18/mass-revolution-or-mass-con-universities-and-open-courses/comment-page-1/#comment-232473 Gavin Moodie Tue, 18 Dec 2012 03:04:24 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/?p=338399#comment-232473 It is interesting to read this scepticism. Most commentary on moocs is so exorbitantly enthusiastic as to be 'mass psychosis', as Stokes (2012) said. Stokes, Peter J (2012) quoted in Carlson, Scott and Blumenstyk, Goldie (2012) For whom is college being reinvented?, Chronicle of Higher Education, 17 December. It is interesting to read this scepticism. Most commentary on moocs is so exorbitantly enthusiastic as to be ‘mass psychosis’, as Stokes (2012) said.

Stokes, Peter J (2012) quoted in Carlson, Scott and Blumenstyk, Goldie (2012) For whom is college being reinvented?, Chronicle of Higher Education, 17 December.

]]> By: shanghai http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/12/18/mass-revolution-or-mass-con-universities-and-open-courses/comment-page-1/#comment-232464 shanghai Tue, 18 Dec 2012 02:30:50 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/?p=338399#comment-232464 Hi, Been involved with online education for about 20 years - the form is OK for some subject types and even then for specific components within the subject. I don't think I'd get in an aircraft where the pilot had qualified via online courses - and of course - surgery can be tricky!! It's basically a dumbing down process - get enough punters out there partially educated and you have the perfect consumer target. Hi,
Been involved with online education for about 20 years - the form is OK for some subject types and even then for specific components within the subject.
I don’t think I’d get in an aircraft where the pilot had qualified via online courses - and of course - surgery can be tricky!!
It’s basically a dumbing down process - get enough punters out there partially educated and you have the perfect consumer target.

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