The first time I took an online learning class was the Spring semester of my freshman year when I was in Orlando, Florida doing the Disney College Program. I am now a junior and since then I have taken a total of three online learning classes.
I definitely do not prefer them when compared to a traditional in class setting, but there are many perks that make these classes worth taking. Being able to take these classes from anywhere in the world and on your own time schedule is extremely helpful when you have other things going on such as internships, jobs, or a family to take care of.
One of the things mentioned in the article that I tend to agree with is the difficulty there is with getting all your work done and turned in on time. I do not agree, though, that it is a motivational issue, but more of a time management issue. When you are not reporting to a teacher and being reminded when assignments are due, it is easy to get caught up with other things and forget. I had this problem multiple times, and it is a skill you must adapt to.
There are many advantages that go along with online learning though. As I mentioned early, it can be done anywhere at anytime, as long as you remember to do it. I also think you learn time management and organizational skills through the process of taking the course. When you are grown up and have a job, your boss will not be there every day to remind you of the meetings you have scheduled or the tasks you must complete, so you are on your own to write down reminders and check emails to make sure you are on top of things at all times.
On another note, I thought the idea of these MOOC courses being fueled by “life long learners” was very interesting. For NewsWatch Ole Miss, I just recently covered a story talking about a course offered by the University called, “Iphone, Ipad, Iwhat?”
This course was for those “life long learners” who are interested in improving their skills at every point in their life as the world and technology continues to change. Although not an online course, I think courses like this that are sparking interest in older crowds are very important in maintaing a balance between all generations in and out of the work place.
I have never enrolled in a MOOC, I don’t think, but I see the positives in them and would not turn down the idea to take one if given the opportunity.
Interesting connection with the idea of life-long learners. I think that’s an important piece of the puzzle. One of the problems with MOOCs is that most of the people who actually finished the courses were already college educated, and were already the “target demographic” of the original, non-MOOC course. Course designers and educators have always had trouble figuring out how to make their content more accessible to wider audiences, and MOOCs haven’t figure out how to do that yet.