Most would agree that traditional education as we know it is evolving and changing. Change has come for a number of reasons:
- Technological advancement
- Change in student needs
- Economics
- Politics
The first thing that came to mind when watching the video of the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) was that this could revolutionize education.
- Built for a world where information is everywhere
- Course, open, participatory, distributed, and supports lifelong learning
- Free
- A community where work and product is shared, allowing for creativity, innovation, and networking.
As I continued to research, I saw that Google was ready to launch a new site in collaboration with edX, to create “A free, open-source way for universities, institutions, businesses, and individuals to build and host courses in the cloud on any topic and in any format for a global audience.” http://mooc.org/
- But how long until the non-for-profit realize that online education is an evolving economic tsunami?
- Could these MOOC type courses compete with or even replace post-secondary education?
- Would corporate America give credence or credit to someone who completes these courses but doesn’t pay for the “credit?”
- Is this a solution to the rising cost of higher ed?
- This will continue to change the global marketplace and enhance the theory that “The World is Flat.”
I began to think of education in two separate quadrants. Traditional vs. Online. However, as I read Online Educational Delivery Models by Phil Hill, I thought he made a very interesting point when he stated that it doesn’t have to be one way or the other. Maybe the best models of education combine elements of a traditional education with more of the new, self-driven, 21st century learning...or...
Blended Learning - defined as any time a student learns at least in part at a
supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home and at least in
part through online delivery with some element of student control over
time, place, path, and/or pace.
What classroom today would not be considered a blended learning or Hybrid classroom? Don’t most 21st century, student-led classroom fit the above definition?
Schools will continue to blend various types of environment to meet the needs of it customers (students). Hopefully these settings, whether virtual, brick and mortar, or both, will provide differentiation to allow all students resources for success.
Great post, Ben. You brought up some great points about how MOOCs can change the way we educate our students. As an elementary teacher, I still struggle to find how we would be able to create such a world for younger students, but am intrigued at the same time. It seems to me that we would have to begin with the "Face to Face Driver" model described in our readings, and transition to other models that are conducive to the MOOC. Either way, I agree, we need to find a way to blend the learning our students are doing to prepare them for the world where information is everywhere.
ReplyDeleteAndrea, I wish we could add keyboarding skills to our elementary curriculum. I think that would make our jobs as teachers trying to use online tools so much easier. I know kids often just "pick it up," being the digital natives they are, but I still see a lot of kids in fifth grade typing with two fingers, hunt-and-peck style. I know keyboarding and digital skills are taught in some districts, but it is hard to imagine where to find the time when it's challenging just to get all the required minutes in LA, Math, Social Studies and Science, plus Library and specials. What do you all think? Should keyboarding and other basic digital skills be part of a curriculum, or should students just pick it up as they can? It seems like it would help even the playing field if it were taught to all kids.
DeleteKate, ABSOLUTELY we should have keyboarding skills in elementary. I remember in fourth grade, going to a typing class, and taking those tests. I loved that time, because computers were a new technology for elementary students to use...now, more than ever, they are a part of our lives, and to not teach kids how to use them correctly is like expecting them to multiply inverses when they haven't even begun to add. I would take a position as a computer teacher (like a special) in a heartbeat...
DeleteI would agree... I am in support of some type of keyboarding class offered... I love it when students are shocked when I type while not looking at my fingers and the keys...I find it humorous b/c it is second nature to me..but I was taught and like all things...with practice have gotten really quick/good. I too remember those tests in high school as well! As silly as they seemed then...I know that they helped me to become more fluent and efficient with my skills.
DeleteAs I read your post, Ben, I was most struck by the questions that you listed toward the end. These questions were the same ones that were going through my head as I was reading about MOOCs this week. The big thing that keeps hitting me is how these changes could change the rules of the game for educational institutions and students.
ReplyDeleteStudent: more of their learning will be self driven and will rely on self discipline. While this is good for students some will be left behind unless we figure out a better way to teach self-discipline and self-motivation.
Institutions: employers will need to look at a different set of credentials. It may not be about diplomas anymore but instead about credentials and "what" a student can actually do (more outcome/skill-based versus seattime and payment-based).
Massive Online Learning can give learners a lot of options and an avenue to learn for the sack of learning. The question is how do we help students make good choices about what they are learning (i.e., will lead to college and career readiness) and develop a love for learning. We must also take a lesson from recent research about the GED (i.e., students with a GED are no more employable than students without a high school credential because they lack soft skills like attendance, compliance with requests, and perseverance) and remember that soft skills are a necessary part of education. Perhaps these are the new roles of Public schools, through a blended model, and the content will shift to the internet?
Here is a url for some really interesting information about the GED and "Soft Skills".
Deletehttp://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/09/06/mpr_news_presents
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DeleteMark, I also thought Ben posed great questions. I also wanted to comment on your discussion of students and self-discipline. I have sometimes been approached by low-performing students who were "stuck" finishing up their handwritten work (while other students had been rewarded for finishing their work with computer work), and I’ve been asked by these low performers, “When do WE get to bet on the computers?”
DeleteI wonder if offering more in-class work online--and making positive performance the requirement that allows them computer work--would help give them an external motivation to achieve? That would be a great outcome.
As much as I am a flexible and adapting... I too worry about losing those kids that do not know how to learn this way. At BMS we are teaching about GRIT: goals, accountability, determination, optimism and perseverance. Many of our students are not familiar with these terms and also what they mean and how they look. This is just another way to teach those soft skills that they will need to get through learning in and out of the classroom. They are so important in life as well and trying to assist our students to see this is an important job. Self discipline is also a behavior that comes with learning and practice...but I find that some of our students home lives do not promote this behavior as well which forms a hole in the connection piece and also the value of it is decreased in their minds as well.
DeleteWhat an interesting debate and concept. Give students credit for what they can do, rather than the diploma they "pay" for? I think high schools are quickly going in this direction. If a student can show mastery, they can test out of a course for credit. It is only a matter of time until colleges follow this path.
DeleteAs hybrid classrooms experiences increase in usage for elementary students, I am hoping that writing skills will be re-emphasized. Even in the eight years that I’ve been teaching, I’ve seen a de-emphasis in writing skills because of changes in high-stakes tests at different grade levels; what is required for writing is currently being reshaped again by the Common Core standards and the new Batelle tests, which re-emphasize some writing skills, I believe.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best outcomes of hybrid assignments I’ve taught (with Moodle) was that, online, students were visibly motivated to read independently, explore topics and also to write, communicate their ideas with peers and teachers, and to be published. Their writing, editing, and expressive skills developed in the process, and they could learn so much from each other. This type of independent learning, with the structure and face-to-face teacher guidance offered by a hybrid class, really fuels student enthusiasm.
I agree that when I introduce something that involves technology in anyway students are more motivated to complete the assignment. It amazes me that it can be the same assignment but on the computer and their entire outlook changes. It makes me wonder why more teachers are not incorporating more technology into their classrooms.
DeleteWhile teaching the Hybrid courses at the high school, students were engaged and working. What we found challenging, is that they often lacked the discipline to put the time in only while out of school, in order to be prepared for the brick and mortar part of the class.
DeleteEducation is forever changed due to the technology boom we have experienced recently. The way we educate ourselves and our students will never be the same. I believe we have seem many positive reactions to this change but we have also experienced some challenges along the way. MOOC is something brand new and exciting to me. I look forward to learning more about these online free opportunities to continue my education. I also think it leads to some discuss on how this could affect our classrooms. Ben discussed how blended learning may be a great option. I actually thought of this the other day as my students were all working on their devices on individualized assignments and I walked around and observed. Did my students really need to be in the classroom to get that learning experience? What will classrooms look like in another 10 years? I foresee more and more blended classrooms in our future.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that education is changing and the classroom as we now know it will be considerably different in another 10 years. What I find intriguing is how we will incorporate these online free opportunities with the curriculum we currently have in place. Will there be enough free opportunities out there that can be infused with current curriculum to offer a high quality education? I think we are still in the early days of MOOC's and will continue to see MOOC's grow and expand in the very near future.
DeleteIn reading your reply, Christian, I made me think about the ethics of MOOCs in public education. Is it ethical to have students, within our building, taking free online classes as part of a blended experience? Could WE give credit for this class even thought we did not proctor it (i.e., flex credit)?
DeleteI see MOOC's having an impact on the way we do education and the role/responsibilities of teachers. One thing we need to keep in mind with this large emphasis on online learning is that this is a completely different type of learning than many students are used to. This will require instruction and motivation from our teachers to our students in a way that is similar but different to what we currently see. MOOC's require the student to be self motivated and accountable for their own education to be truly effective. Most student's know how to be successful at the way we currently do school. MOOC's have the ability to change the way we do school which will require students to develop a new understanding of what it takes to be successful in their education.
ReplyDeleteStudent choice Mr Long, isn't that important? In college, and in non traditional student households, MOOCS and online learning are for more conducive to most people than M-W-F 3-4pm. High School is a different monster, kids need to learn accountability first.
Delete"The MOOC is an EVENT... where people (who care and are passionate about a topic) get together, talk about it in a structured way." It reminds me a lot of a course my father in law might take on astronomy, now that he is retired. Is it the way of the future? Maybe its not the way, but just another way? People can still learn by going to a library and reading, yet never getting credit for it, right? People can learn in MOOC the same way, and participate and learn from others. I see it more like a philosopher's salon where ideas are shared, and debated, and people cast their own views onto well known topics or skills.
ReplyDeleteThe model is changing though, and having personally run a blended classroom, where the students met in a "Model 2: Rotation" scenario, its not for everyone. But, isn't education about student choice? At least that is what ISSN is saying... and online delivery methods supported by MIT, Stanford and Harvard are not the same Strayer, Pheonix, Devry, or Rocko's School of Beauty.
I hear your call for choice loud and clear Andy. Perhaps that is the secret. We will have to remember, however, in a world of mandatory education, that there has to be something there for the student that refuses to make a choice. What does that class look like? The question is one of constructing, promoting, and conducting classes in such a way that students, all students, will willingly take the class. If we accomplish this then MOOCs truly would be a revolution in education. If we don;t accomplish this then I fear that they will work to further the educational divide. THose who have technology and academic motivation will learn and thrive while those that don't will be missing opportunities. THis brings knew import to the concept of digital divide.
DeleteI enjoyed the video introducing MOOC and feel that it brought up some great points:
ReplyDelete- As Andy notes...it is an event
- During information overload time - it is everywhere in our digital world and also available just about everywhere
- Allows for connecting and collaborating - I love this aspect!
- Engages learners and participants but allows them to decide how much they want to contribute - only to be assessed by themselves!
- Free is important but the opportunity to get credit with a payment...is something that I would enjoy as well.
- I also like that there are not specific assignments but discussions that promote lifelong learning and independence.
I am interested in seeing how education evolves in this digital world, in my 10 years of teaching there have been so many changes and we all have stated...it is not going to stop.
I do think that just like differentiation and teaching to multiple learning styles..some students will not excel this way but should that stop us from implementing this into our schools and ways of teaching?