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Why we need more than “learn at your own pace” online learning

blog.brainstation.io

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Re: Why we need more than “learn at your own pace” online learning

#91

Post by macspoofing »

LeanderK wrote: post #89

I never understood online-learning ([1]) for non-trivial topics. I need to discuss stuff to really understand it and to also have fun with it! I don't know how somebody could do a complete degree or even some harder lectures purely by watching some videos on your computer. Having access to some smart phd-students, talking with peers and solving hard problem-sets together is part of the fun. I can only imagine doing t…

>I never understood online-learning ([1]) for non-trivial topics.

How about this: You can't afford to pause your entire life to do a 4 year degree.

Re: Why we need more than “learn at your own pace” online learning

#92

Post by j45 »

LeanderK wrote: post #89

I never understood online-learning ([1]) for non-trivial topics. I need to discuss stuff to really understand it and to also have fun with it! I don't know how somebody could do a complete degree or even some harder lectures purely by watching some videos on your computer. Having access to some smart phd-students, talking with peers and solving hard problem-sets together is part of the fun. I can only imagine doing t…

The issue is - online learning isn't just watching videos.

In the case of software related tasks, it's learning skills, competencies, and building software, which is on the computer.

Digital learning is not happening, because current implementations have been anchored in the past (recording lectures) instead of creating meaningful digital experiences. Educators generally don't have the technology skills to create meaningful digital learning experiences.

The technologists that can create meaningful digital learning experiences are often not in the decision making capacity that they could be.

Re: Why we need more than “learn at your own pace” online learning

#94

Post by LeanderK »

macspoofing wrote: post #91
LeanderK wrote: post #89

I never understood online-learning ([1]) for non-trivial topics. I need to discuss stuff to really understand it and to also have fun with it! I don't know how somebody could do a complete degree or even some harder lectures purely by watching some videos on your computer. Having access to some smart phd-students, talking with peers and solving hard problem-sets together is part of the fun. I can only imagine doing t…

>I never understood online-learning ([1]) for non-trivial topics. How about this: You can't afford to pause your entire life to do a 4 year degree.

we have part-time masters here in germany. A friend of mine is doing a part-time bachelor and it works out.

But it's usually not as challenging as going to a university for a full-time study.

Re: Why we need more than “learn at your own pace” online learning

#95

Post by j45 »

anonymous5133 wrote: post #73
heurist wrote: post #33

I don't think MOOCS are the solution unless utilized in schools. The role of a school teacher working along with a MOOC would be more motivational and disciplinary, which is what most teachers seem to specialize in anyway. Separate the content from the distribution. Only problem is when every student is learning exactly the same things and having no room for thinking out of the box, but again that pretty much already…

IMO, I think MOOCs will be the future of education going forward. The simple fact that a MOOC can deliver on-demand education for basically nothing on a per-student basis is significant. You are looking at MOOCs based on what they are now, which I agree, are generally low quality, not comprehensive and lack sufficient tools for students to self-study. Overtime, these issues will be worked out. New tools will be creat…

MOOCs in their current incarnation of recorded lectures will only go so far, because the delivery method is anchored in the past.

MOOCs need to evolve. Many are just using the same pattern (Video/Question) that has been around since 2001. It's ridiculous, especially when creating video content is expensive, let alone updating it quickly enough across a plethora of topics.

MOOCs, or a better solution must support 30% of learning that occurs inside a classroom, and 70% of the informal learning that occurs outside the classroom for the same student.

Very few systems are paying attention to how students are actually learning today in academic environments - it's pretty interesting how large the disconnect is.

Re: Why we need more than “learn at your own pace” online learning

#96

Post by gaius »

ska wrote: post #84
bcheung wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. I notice that many MOOCs have this academic mentality that something must be complete and a certificate earned. I could really give a damn about a certificate. Gaining the knowledge I need is all I care about. Udacity really makes me mad when they remove courses that I paid for if I don't do every little exercise (even the ones that are so horribly designed and have little learning value in them).

Gaining the knowledge may be all you care about, so long as you never have to demonstrate that gain. Certificates/exams/etc. are all used as proxies for demonstrating that in a complex and expensive way. Perhaps Udacity et. al. need an equivalent to "audit" - sounds like that would work for you.

EdX has this - courses are free to audit, you only pay if you want a certificate (but you can always screenshot your progress page)

Re: Why we need more than “learn at your own pace” online learning

#97

Post by qwerty456127 »

I believe education and testing/certification should always be considered 2 perfectly separate things and, ideally, done by different parties. There should be companies that educate people seeking to acquire knowledge and there should be companies that test people seeking a formal confirmation of their knowledge and issue them certificates. No exams should exist in an ideal university, their job is to educate you an this is what they are to specialize in. But this hardly is a good idea for MOOCs from the financial point of view as charging for certification is the way MOOCs earn money to fund the whole operation so they can keep the actual education part free.

Re: Why we need more than “learn at your own pace” online learning

#98

Post by hessproject »

Many MOOCs are beginning to address the "expertise" and "other students" issues that the article mentions.

For example, in my spare time I've been taking music production and gamedev courses. In both cases, the courses are still at your own pace, but they provide official ways to contact the instructors and they respond within 24 hours, and they also provide either a discord/slack channel or a facebook group for sharing/pairing/asking questions with other students.

While I'm typically the 10% completion type of student the article mentions, I've found both provided forms of communication to be very helpful in keeping me motivated to work through the courses. When I get stuck on a concept I can take a break and reach out to the instructors, and I find the ability to share and see others music/games gives me some inspiration to continue learning and working.

Re: Why we need more than “learn at your own pace” online learning

#99

Post by yuy910616 »

LeanderK wrote: post #94
macspoofing wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I never understood online-learning ([1]) for non-trivial topics. How about this: You can't afford to pause your entire life to do a 4 year degree.

we have part-time masters here in germany. A friend of mine is doing a part-time bachelor and it works out. But it's usually not as challenging as going to a university for a full-time study.

I think in Europe this might be possible. But in America cost of education is prohibitively expensive.

Re: Why we need more than “learn at your own pace” online learning

#100

Post by DelightOne »

j45 wrote: post #85
DelightOne wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Self-directed learning is going to be a real thing, because it already is. We search constantly for answers on mobile, to construct new abilities. The current options are abysmal, sadly.

It really is abysmal, between the ineffecifencies of creating content, delivering it and keeping it looking to the future instead of anchored in the past. Still I'm starting to feel optimistic for the first time in a long time. There is a horizon on the future, finally thanks to the convergence of more accessible connectivity, devices and capabilites of digital experiences in the next 2 years.

> There is a horizon on the future, finally thanks to the convergence of more accessible connectivity, devices and capabilites of digital experiences in the next 2 years.

For services and apps to emerge, to make things less abysmal? I don’t see what you are hopeful for, what the given things would change.

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