Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Does it Work? The Most Meaningless Question to Ask about Online Education

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

I agree with Yong Zhao on this point, and appreciate how completely he makes the argument. The question is meaningless because (quoted and/or paraphrased):

  • online education is a big umbrella that covers a wide array of different practice;
  • the diversity of stakeholders in online education (and) what works for one stakeholder may not work for the others;
  • no program can possibly have the same effects on all students equally;
  • the multiplicity of outcomes (that) include more than what has been typically measured by grades or tests;
  • technology changes fast... (what worked or didn't work)  five years ago may or may not be relevant today.

As we've said many times about MOOCs: you need to decide for yourself what counts as success, and whether your learning activity has met that standard.

Today: 1 Total: 1103 [Direct link] [Share]

Image from the website


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

Copyright 2024
Last Updated: Apr 18, 2024 5:35 p.m.

Canadian Flag Creative Commons License.

Force:yes