A thought on MOOC's and ETMOOC

Today I tried to catch up with google plus. With over 1200 in my email's I figured it was about time to catch up. As usual there are 5 posts I have put in "read later", thanks diigo, a few I commented on and one that took me on a journey I did not expect and I wanted to share:

I found the following post by..Alan Brady called tree sitting. Now unless you completely want to hear an argument as to why the idea's of MOOC's is a bad one and well written with many great points and logical sequence, I suggest you read it. I read it three times and as he disagrees greatly with MOOC's. He discusses these views in his post while addressing a blog post by Clay Shirsky regarding Clay's thoughts on Mooc's as suggested at Mr. Shirsky's blog where he consider's the MOOC a lightening rod, an explosion in this open world, MOOC's will help with expenses, will open how we view what we are learning. I agree completely Mr. Shirsky, thanks for the great post and books.

Mr. Brady's arquement is that "the word MOOC is misused and that certain colleges will make a profit or misuse it's intentions".

When he references MOOC's and the self directed learner that is required, he states: you would be getting a special kind of online text, one which is slightly more interactive than a web-site, but basically not distinct from a well-organized blog. Such things can be a wonderful addition to the universe.But calling them “classes” is begging the question that a class is no more than that, and I am consistently amazed that anyone would make that mistake."

I can in earnest tell you I am learning more because there are no time lines really. I am learning rhizomatically and that's OK. I have the time to explore and my stomach is not in a knot because my digital story isn't complete. I have enjoyed so many different paths that I feel that I have learned more. Don't get me wrong, I spend at least 6 hours a week actively in etmooc. I don't worry what path I end up going down as it is usually in great detail and with thinkers similar and very unsimilar to me, which enlighten's me and helps me to grown.

“He states that the term online” has performed some strange alchemy, turning a digital lecture class into pedagogical gold. And this is the entire structural logic of the MOOC as a concept: with great technology, comes great student to teacher ratios. There is no MOOC without this imperative to shed pedagogical labor."

Wow, now I am pretty sure he is not connected as I have learned that I have a community of over 1000 educators to help me. That's an awesome ratio in my eyes. Now I've seen Alan's work and Sue's many comments, I find that so hard to believe. Did we get lucky?? Every facilitator has been wonderful in sharing work, reviewing comments and reading our blogs. It is evident in the comments and in our blackboard sessions that they know who we are and really care about the content provided and well "re-created".

I think we know who our connections are by now. We know that there are over 1000 people willing to help in our #etmooc community. Am I wrong? I think that those who need to be nudged or pushed to listen or in some cases talk are what we call lurkers. Not slackers. They see the information and hopefully they will try to play with one of the many great tools the community provides and contribute too. It's ok, 80% of the information on the internet is learned because they are looking for it. Even if they don't contribute, does not mean they did not learn.

Point is, As an etmooc'er I got upset. I got upset that the views he presented appeared to be well, without experience plain and simple, it is so easy to judge or give view points when you have not participated in both types of learning. I have worked my but off it my MOOC experience and I have learned more than many college classes combined. I can go to a lecture with 200 people and walk down hallways and not experience the conversations and reflections that I read, discussed and listen to in #etmooc, I think Alan and our other facilitators our providing a great path with topics, communities, blackboard sessions that are enticing and educational. One of the major arguements is that a MOOC is not quantifiable. It is not known who is actually participating and how much. Again, I disagree, I believe if you ask Alan or Sue of etmooc, they could tell you there top contributors, those that have blogs, tweeted, participated, lurked, and learned. I'm sure if you really wanted to you could count how many times I shared on google plus and twitter and how many blogs I wrote and if you really wanted you could even get feeds to my comments as technology is a wonderful thing.

We self directed learners do not need the quantifiable. Maybe any MOOC need's a disclaimer,

Must read "rhizomatic learning".

Must define your own goals.

Must be willing to be a provider and sharer of information in an online environment and be mature in nature.

Warning: This is a MOOC, We do not hold your hand but welcome you on a great journey!"

As I finish this post, I just read another great post on MOOC's were they are broken down to an actual online course by Joe Dillon, "Course camparison,f2f vs etmooc". A great read.

Rhizomatic Learning and Comments are How I Learn

Had to add this picture, I love it!

I left this as a comment on a blog today, but realized it makes a great post so here it is.... Ah, the power of comments is a lovely thing. Watching the exchange on the subject on rhizomatic lerning from Louwarnoud van der Duim's Blog has helped me put rhizomatic learning in perspective.

Thanks you to both @louwarnoud, as I had similar notions until I kept on looking and reading Dave's Blog. I no longer think that rhizomatic learnging is just for those empowered or smarter. It does not need an internet connection. It truly takes a facilitator with an open mind. Please feel free to see my blog post which stemmed from similar thoughts until I came upon the blog post on classroom20.com, Who is Educating Us.

You see when "formal education" is introduced to a community that did not have it, they do lose out, and I quote

"One of the most profound changes that occurs when modern schooling is introduced into traditional societies around the world is a radical shift in the locus of power and control over learning from children, families, and communities to ever more centralized systems of authority.Once learning is institutionalized under a central authority, both freedom for the individual and respect for the local are radically curtailed. The child in a classroom generally finds herself in a situation where she may not move, speak, laugh, sing, eat, drink, read, think her own thoughts, or even use the toilet without explicit permission from an authority figure. Family and community are sidelined, their knowledge now seen as inferior to the school curriculum".

Now if that is not proof that we are at our hearts rhizomatic learners, I'm not sure what does! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Many have expanded my mind when it comes to rhizomatic learning. I still have questions, see my last post..but I think we are wired for rhizomatic learning and if not it is because we were told that's just not how things work! What a shame. I have come to terms with the rhizomatic learning and the power of backtracking and commenting on blogs have helped me to form my own roads. Actually I don't think I have enjoyed a journey like this in a while so Thank you Dave Cormier, because well your awesome and I'm pretty sure I'd like a "badge" for being a rhizomatic learner. Thanks to Lou as I enjoyed your blog and posts immensely. To Carol Black for the amazing paper/post on "Who controls what you learn", and to Sue, as she always comments and has shared and confirmed that looking back and commenting really does add to my knowledge; and last but not least thank you ETMOOC as you have helped me grow and connect!. Thanks for reading.. Love to hear your thoughts.