Excerpt: MOOC pedagogy: the challenges of developing for Coursera
In the summer of 2012 the team of teachers and researchers associated with the MSc in E-learning programme at the University of Edinburgh began developing a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) for the Coursera platform. Launched only a year earlier, this for-profit company founded by Stanford professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller has focussed primarily on hosting computer science related courses from big name US institutions.
The recently announced partnership with the University of Edinburgh presented the team with an opportunity to engage and experiment with the much-publicised MOOC format, and foreground issues related to the theory and practice of online education itself.
What follows are some of our perspectives on the planning and development of a large scale open course, what challenges the MOOC presents for delivering a worthwhile educational experience, and what questions this type of course format provokes for a team already teaching and researching in the field of e-learning and technology in higher education.
We are interested in experimenting with the MOOC format to design a course that engages people with the intersection of popular culture and education. The very debates that have swamped e-learning blogs and news channels concerning the institutionalisation of the MOOC are often underpinned by entrenched ideas about the promise or peril of technology, and it is these narratives we’d like to explore.
While many appear devoted to the idea that digital technology holds the key to attaining an educational Shangri-La, for others its systemisation represents a terrifying challenge to our sense of identification with the learning process.
In this sense, our Coursera offering may connect with the MOOC debate itself, but it will also engage with much broader themes, theories and practices in the domain of education and technology…
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MOOC Narrative? MOOC themes? MOOC theory? MOOC practice?
The MOOC format as educational Shangri-La?
MOOC Pedagogy – Promise or Peril?
Each of the above questions can not be sufficiently researched without examining the learning experience of the MOOC participant. It is a simple yet obvious truth that without the MOOC participant, you don’t have a MOOC.
Fortunately, there are experiential accounts available from which to draw inspiration from, to delve into for qualitative research, quantitative tendencies, and most importantly, into the mind of the learner who devotes any length of time to a MOOC. Here are some “MOOC books” that are a must read for anyone interested in MOOC pedagogy:
Currently, there are two ways to find out what learning in a massive, open, online course is like: One, you can participate in such a course, provided you have the time necessary to invest in such a learning experience. When your time is the limited and precious commodity that we all know it to be, you may not be able to participate, however.
Don’t feel bad about that. That’s life, and for the majority of us mortals, we work for a living in a world that will not let us simply employ our time in any pursuit. We have to be selective, to be balanced with the way in which we invest our time. Families, friends, hobbies, rest & relaxation demand an equal share of the 24 hour clock. So, if we can’t participate in a MOOC, that leaves option two available.
Option Two? You can read this book…
My #CCK11 Experience
by Thomas Jerome Baker
Stephen: “On Jan. 17 George Siemens and I will launch the third offering of our online course called ‘Connectivism and Connective Knowledge’ – or CCK11. We use the term ‘connectivism’ to describe a network-based pedagogy. The course itself uses connectivist principles and is therefore an instantiation of the philosophy of teaching and learning we both espouse.” This book is the result of my participation in the #CCK11 course…
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Connectivism and Connected Knowledge: Participating in a MOOC [Kindle Edition]
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Connectivism & Connected Knowledge: A Personal Journey [Paperback]
Connectivism & Connected Knowledge tells the story of my journey from isolation to becoming globally connected to sources of knowledge. It is a journey that begins with a proposition: self-improvement that also benefits others. I go back in time to share this journey with you, certain that it will also benefit you personally, and the members of your personal and professional learning network also.
Connectivism & Connected Knowledge: A Personal Journey [Kindle Edition]
Connectivism & Connected Knowledge tells the story of my journey from isolation to becoming globally connected to sources of knowledge. It is a journey that begins with a proposition: self-improvement that also benefits others. I go back in time to share this journey with you, certain that it will also benefit you personally, and the members of your personal and professional learning network also.
Connectivism has been called a theory of learning for a digital age. After you read this book, you will have knowledge of how connectivism can benefit you, both personally and professionally…
Connectivism & Connected Knowledge: A Personal Journey [Paperback]
Connectivism & Connected Knowledge tells the story of my journey from isolation to becoming globally connected to sources of knowledge. It is a journey that begins with a proposition: self-improvement that also benefits others. I go back in time to share this journey with you, certain that it will also benefit you personally, and the members of your personal and professional learning network also.
Connectivism & Connected Knowledge: A Personal Journey [Kindle Edition]
Connectivism for EFL Teachers: A Theory of Learning for A Digital Age
“Connectivism for EFL Teachers” is the result of reflections, at length, with how I teach. I have learned how to teach by literally sitting at the feet of some of the most respected, talented, and gifted teachers in the ELT profession. I met these giants, oddly enough, at the end of the world, here in Chile. They have taught me much, through their words, their writings, and above all, through their example. As a teacher I owe much of who I am to them. Nonetheless, I take complete responsibility for what I have been able to create with my own talent and intellect. For this reason, I thank my “giants”, anonymously. I seek to emulate their selfless example in my own writing and committment to my profession, English Language Teaching. With this, I hope to have repaid an enduring debt, and in some small measure, inspired another teacher to do as I do, to seek the heights of great teaching. Thomas Jerome Baker, Santiago, Chile February 2012
Connectivism for EFL Teachers: A Theory of Learning For A Digital Age [Kindle Edition]
“Connectivism for EFL Teachers” is the result of reflections, at length, with how I teach. I have learned how to teach by literally sitting at the feet of some of the most respected, talented, and gifted teachers in the ELT profession. I met these giants, oddly enough, at the end of the world, here in Chile.
They have taught me much, through their words, their writings, and above all, through their example. As a teacher I owe much of who I am to them. Nonetheless, I take complete responsibility for what I have been able to create with my own talent and intellect.
For this reason, I thank my “giants”, anonymously. I seek to emulate their selfless example in my own writing and committment to my profession, English Language Teaching. With this, I hope to have repaid an enduring debt, and in some small measure, inspired another teacher to do as I do, to seek the heights of great teaching.
Thomas Jerome Baker,
Santiago, Chile
Let A Thousand Models Bloom: The Unconference is Dead [Paperback]
This is the first book about the unconference movement that seeks to address the question: Is the unconference dead? It looks at BarCamp, Edcamp, Educamp, TeachMeet and weighs in on hybrid events – traditional conferences that include an unconference track. Thomas, himself a Co-Founder & Co-Organiser of EdCamp Santiago, reassures the potential unconference organiser that organising a perfect unconference is a lot less complicated than it seems. “…a perfect unconference … would be a jam session, a moveable feast. Improvisation has signal, it has pattern, it has structure, it has plans, but it also has the freedom to say or play what it seems right to say or play at that moment. Whatever works is what I want to be free to do, what the work of the “un” ought to accomplish, to make working an always-provisional, always-scrutinized, always-open value. Let a thousand models bloom, and then cross-pollinate.” (Timothy Burke, February 9, 2012, “Easily Distracted”)
Pecha Kucha
I saw my first Pecha Kucha over three years ago. It was when I was working at Universidad Andrés Bello at Campus Casona in Santiago with the students in the English Pedagogy program. I admit I’ve been fascinated by “Pecha Kucha” ever since that first time. I remember being very impressed by the performance I watched. There were a number of reasons for this. For now, let me share with you why I find Pecha Kucha to be so impressive and fascinating as a presentation technique.
Firstly, when we speak of our first time doing something enjoyable, it’s always a good feeling. We like what we like, we know what we like, and because of that, we return often, to what we like.
As you can tell by now, I like Pecha Kucha.
Secondly, its principles are easy to understand and apply. It’s fast, it’s efficient, it’s effective, it’s collaborative, it’s visual, it’s easy to prepare, it’s fun. However, it does require practice, lots of it, to do this really well. Practice, oh what a sweet word in the ears of any EFL teacher. Students practicing what they are going to say, again and again, going over their own words, to speak about images they themselves have selected. Volumes of practice, huge quantities of practice, helping the students to achieve the eventual automaticity that is the hallmark of mastery.
Having said that, of all the principles of the Pecha Kucha, the most important principle is this: images are powerful.
Images convey meaning and emotions. In fact, the whole range of the human experience can be conveyed by images. For example, think of the images left on the walls of caves by cave men. No one needs a cave man to verbalize what you are seeing. You feel it – through your eyes – to your brain – to your emotions. It’s visual storytelling. That’s what the Pecha Kucha is, visual literacy in its purest form…
The International Baccalaureate [Kindle Edition]
The International Baccalaureate [Paperback]
The global search for high-quality education, embedded in high-performing education systems, has taken on mythical proportions, almost resembling the alchemists’ quest to turn common metals into gold.
It is my hope that the present day search for global education, equitable and providing equality of opportunity for all, shall not cease until the “gold” we seek, has been found.
I therefore dedicate this book to all the educators, researchers, parents and students the world over, who strive to achieve this elusive goal,high-quality education for all the citizens of the world.
In this endeavour, it is my belief that the International Baccalaureate merits a closer look, based on their more than 40 year history of delivering consistently excellent results.
I add that all of the reflections and views in this book are mine alone, unless otherwise noted, and can not be attributed to my employer or any other organization I am affiliated with, past or present. For any errors or oversights, I bear the complete responsibility.
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Amazon Author Page: Thomas Jerome Baker
Thomas Baker is the Past-President of TESOL Chile (2010-2011). He is the Head of the English Department at Colegio Internacional SEK in Santiago, Chile.
He is the Co-Founder and Co-Organiser of EdCamp Santiago, free, participant-driven, democratic, conversation based professional development for teachers, by teachers. EdCamp Santiago 2012 was held at Universidad Mayor in Santiago.
Thomas is also a member of the Advisory Board for the International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association (HETL), where he also serves as a reviewer and as the HETL Ambassador for Chile.
Thomas enjoys writing about a wide variety of topics. Thus far, he has written the following genres: romance, historical fiction, autobiographical, sports history/biography, and English Language Teaching. He has published a total of forty four (44) books overall.
The source and inspiration for his writing comes from his family, his wife Gabriela, and his son, Thomas Jerome Baker, Jr.
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