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Tweet! Just a chat

It has been really interesting to hear about the various assessment methods being used in the MOOCs this week with multiple choice quizzes seeming to be the most prolific.

My MOOC: Photography Basics and Beyond: From Smartphone to DSLR
from Michigan State University does have its share of multiple choice quizzes but it is one of the new styles of MOOCs where you can pay a small fee and participate in peer review assignments and a portfolio assignment at the end of the 5 courses to gain a certificate from Michigan.

I’m finding the peer review process both strange, as I’ve never participated in one before, and really helpful. I’m getting lots of great feedback on my photos which is genuinely helping me to create better photos.

I do get a feeling of a much richer experience on the MOOC for it.

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Tweet! Language learning using MOOCs

There seem to have been a few of us this week noticing an alternate use for the MOOC, as an opportunity to learn a language. I don’t mean however enrolling in a MOOC that teaches a specific language, I mean just participating in a MOOC in the language you are choosing to learn.

This is something I have never considered before and to be honest when it was first mentioned I didn’t really consider it too much, then… a fellow student gave me a 0 mark for a peer review piece and I maintain it was because they didn’t understand the word vantage.  It’s only a MOOC, the mark doesn’t matter in the scheme of things, but I was unjustifiably annoyed.

This has left me with a lot to think about in terms of MOOC participation,  is it ok to participate in the activities around learning of the subject matter if you are not fully participating?  Do the differing levels of participation affect fellow students negatively?  Do we have unrealistic expectations on a free course?

 

 

 

 

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Tamagotchi to fitbit

Thinking of the various digital communities over the past 30 years and I think the tammagotchi generation are today’s fitbit community, but the annoying life form they are trying to keep alive is themselves. #mscedc

 

via Instagram http://ift.tt/2mm9mpt\
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-39064735
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Tweet! Shhhhh it’s a secret!

In conversations about our MOOCs many of us have expressed worry at the lack of community to study as the forums in our MOOCs seem to be void of conversation. I’m hoping my invitation to participate in a SECRET facebook group will resolve this. Yes SECRET!

The SECRET part was emphasised quite stupendously in the email from the course lecturer, I feel like a naughty kid getting to do something outrageous.

I have found though that the facebook group is very different from the actual MOOC discussion forums. There is a different type of student taking part there, seems to be more established students and those seeking feedback from their peers.

I now have 3 elements to draw from, RL, MOOC fora and facebook 🙂