MOOC

This is a very interesting article from the Herald.

http://nzh.tw/11124481. 

I am thrilled that Waikato (MY university!) is dipping its' toes into the waters of MOOCing.

I think it is about time that universities were less precious about the way they teach. At primary level, we are required to adjust the way we teach on a daily basis. We are obliged to meet the needs of the learners who attend our schools. And we are FREE! Yet, universities charge through the nose and I don't get a choice about how I learn. They do a one size fits all approach, usually (but not always) a large number of students in a lecture theatre with one "Teacher" offering 'chalk and talk'  or death by powerpoint with 3-to-a-pages at the front. 

We (Primary) have been exploring the idea of "Flipped" learning and the notion that learning doesn't fit into our 9-3 time slot for ages! Children (people for that matter) learn when it's right. If they are open to that learning right then, then they'll learn. I believe it is arrogant of us to continue to insist that learning and our teaching must only be during the times we say!

Educating the 'public' which includes the parents of the children we currently teach is also challenging part of these changes. I believe this is because they come to learning with their own preconceived views and opinions (usually very strong!) about what we should be teaching their children and how. This is almost always based on their own educational experiences which is all they have to go on. However; their own experience is very outdated! We have already moved on - a long way in some institutions, and only a small way for others. Educational pedagogy changes constantly and so this is always a tension for us... 

Any way, I could ramble on and on about this! It's a great topic to challenge our thinking! I love it that even the thinking of university professors has been truly provoked by this emerging phenomenon!