Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Flipping The MOOC?

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

MOOCs are coming under increasing criticism from what I would call educational traditionalists. Case in point: "I had opportunity to join a discussion group that I found purely by happenstance, with others from the class... nobody had anything of value to bring to the table.  Social learning is indeed a powerful thing, but without what Vygotsky would call the "More Knowledgeable Other" in the group, it starts to break down quickly." Now I doubt that this is actually a true story, but the point is the same as is being made by others: it's not possible to learn without a teacher - not just someone who occasionally corrects and informs, but someone who is pretty much full-time inside these student discussions. I just don't agree with that. Do you think study circles at Harvard founder just because there isn't a professor in the room? No, the proposition is absurd.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Apr 25, 2024 04:47 a.m.

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