Massive Open Online Course according to a video by Dave Cormier and Neal Gillis is:
- a response to the challenges of organizations concerning information overload. a course (participants, facilitators, engaging in the learning process, start and end date, an event).
- open (accessible, take without paying for participating, work is shared).
- paticipatory (engage with material, each other, and the course facilitator.)
- distributed - the information knits together to create a networked course.
- Is a step on the road to lifelong learning.
Concerning multiple tracks or themes, there may be a group people who want to learn about promoting critical thinking in discussions in current day conferences there is generally a track for just such an interest. There may be another group interested in how to build a learning activity that is rooted in active learning. Yet another group may want a series on hot to manage a debate activity. Sometimes the tracks may over lap in that some of the sessions may explore managing a critical thinking learning activity that has students debating in small groups and then presenting back to the larger group.
In general, I think the concurrent sessions of a conference translate into the ability to participate in any MOOC activity at any time but sometimes the MOOC was designed with a chronological learning path but at the same time you can go back and continue developing ideas concepts and knowledge with other students and the instructor in a past activity. I see this similar to bouncing from one session to another at a conference or using the flex time in between sessions to further interface with someone who might have had a great experience or idea that interests you.
In both conferences and in MOOCs sharing ideas, networking with people, developing understanding together, collaborative visions, and the real time building of understanding are the most valuable pieces.
The need for me to interface with javascript developers, multimedia creators, teachers, and learners is so important. So that is what I try to do at conferences and in MOOCs, develop ideas together.
I was at a conference recently where there was a game woven into almost every aspect of the conference. This motivated me to communicate with people, be attentive, assist other game players, and be highly engaged. A few months later, I joined a MOOC that had a similar game component. I forgot to add the log in credentials to my password management solution so I have not participated in a while but in the beginning I was furiously collecting badges with the idea of gaining status in the community so that people would want to work with me.
MOOCS for which I am a part: Google - Online Learning Today... Tomorrow and Power Searching with Google. Standford - Class2Go (Solar Cells, Fuel Cells and Batteries) and An Introduction to Computer Networks Classes WCET - Do you have CLASS? Current/Future State of Higher Education.
University of Indiana one with Curtis Bonk.
A few app based MOOC type entities:
Tappestry - Tin Can API
Khan Academy
TedEd
@kylesonger
