Journal 9: "Massive and Open"

Journal 9: "Massive and Open" NETS 2, 3

Fasimpaur, K. (n.d.). Massive and open. (2013). Learning and Leading with Technology, 40(6), 12-17. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-leading/digitaledition/digital-edition-march-april-2013

              The latest new rage is massive and open online courses (MOOCs). These online classes have no restriction to the number of participants and are often open to the public, free of charge. The method of which MOOCs are held vary, some are student driven, while others the instructor plays an active role in teaching. For example, cMOOCs are peer driven and project based while xMOOCs are more independently ran. I believe that a well balance in both would be a great program. There should be an overseer such as an instructor, yet collaborative study is vital to also practice when working online. Students who work online though must learn to be independent learners. They should be self-motivated and goal oriented in order to maintain the motivation to stay on task without an instructor or K-12 teacher giving requests. One great benefit of using MOOCs is the flexibility and informality. Students can work out of the comfort of their homes or anywhere with internet access. The only issue posing would be the dropout rate. I see many students being irresponsible due to the fact that the MOOCs are laid-back, relaxed settings. They will need to stay on task and focused. Yet, because of the formality of the course, students can feel free to enter into MOOCs and leave. In the future, perhaps MOOCs can expand more to the higher education level, rather than just K-12.


Question 1: How could MOOCs be used in the classroom? 
Face-to-face instruction is often essential for many students. They need to see and hear things before they can begin to understand. However, I see this program being used for students who are unable to attend class. Either they have a physical disability or cannot attend their classes for a period of time. Even if a student is sick or staying at home, they have the opportunity to be able to participate in their classroom activities and still learn. Plus, MOOCs offer a great experience for collaboration with other students the the sharing of knowledge and ideas.

Question 2: Are MOOCs secure? 
Yes! Some MOOCs can be password protected, and require. On the contrary however, the point of the MOOC is to be "open".