Need-to-know News: Udacity’s New Direction, a MOOCjam and ability Learning to urge huge Boost

This ‘Need-to-Know’ journal post series options noteworthy stories that talk of need-to-know developments among teaching and K-12 that have the potential to influence, challenge and/or rework ancient education as we all know it. 

1) Udacity’s New Direction

Making headlines in education circles on is Udacity’s about-face, its modification in direction, and new reason for being. Thrun interviewed for a prolonged article in quick Company magazine printed last week, shared his new [and apparently improved] direction for Udacity—no longer is it higher education, the use sector in line with Thrun is that the best marketplace for Udacity’s MOOCs. I shared my initial thoughts during a post earlier this week—my aim here is to share with readers the specifics of Udacity’s re-branding.

Udacity as readers can bear in mind was heavily concerned in teaching as recently as many months agone. Udacity’s pilot program with San Jose State University was a big investment for SJSU, but was a failure overall. Sadly, the bulk of the scholars, together with those requiring remedial support, failing the MOOC categories. within the quick Company interview Thrun was dismissive of the pilot, and also the students’ failures. Udacity apparently has found a additional compliant market, (and additional profitable) and is partnering with firms or what Thrun calls “industry partners”. Udacity’s partners in line with Udacity’s blog:

2) MOOCjam with martyr Siemens

This past weekday, martyr Siemens hosted a MOOCjam, a web day-long discussion a few abstract framework consisting of “nine distinct parts stock-still in associate degree underlying foundation of technology and systems support and evaluation”—developed for examining large Open on-line Course experiences. Among the 9 components area unit style, learner profile and pedagogy.

The jam was a part of the MOOC analysis Initiative, light-emitting diode by Athabasca University and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The goal for the session was “to gain perspective and solicit ideas that inform the community”. Siemens shared that the revised framework are introduced at the MOOC analysis conference happening in early Dec of this year.

The main discussions targeted on 3 areas associated with the MOOC format, ‘the course’, ‘the learner’ and ‘the medium’. within the closing discussion that I participated in beside 10 some causative participants, I mentioned the Framework from the attitude that primarily it might be used as a guide for planning courses, (from my slender educational designer lens). nevertheless there area unit alternative views to think about for its application that Siemens summarized into 3 themes, what form?, for whom? and for what purpose? [summary paragraph below]

“What purpose? There was abundant discussion concerning the Framework being employed or victimised to style courses, became a powerpoint because the “way” to MOOC, or being misconstrued. Brenda Kaulback viewed it as a abstract framework, martyr Siemens as some way to mirror the experiences, Debbie Morrison as some way to assist individuals grasp wherever to start out once planning courses.”

Insights: The Framework and analysis returning from MOOC analysis Initiative can seemingly evolve not simply from these kind of discussions, however are influenced and formed by external factors—debate and discussions concerning MOOCs, and also the establishments and organizations supporting them. The Framework has nice potential, tho' I’m undecided what reasonably impact it'll have within the MOOC community, given the mighty weight and influence of the for-profit MOOC suppliers. For the foremost half they appear to disregard abundant of the analysis concerning on-line learning that has evolved over the previous few years.

3) Department folks Education’s Push For ability Learning

The u. s. government is outwardly power train up to announce another push for ability primarily based learning in line with Hal Plotkin Senior Policy authority within the workplace of the below Secretary of Education (OUS), u. s. Department of Education. Mr. Plotkin light-emitting diode a keynote speech, The Role of on-line and Technology-enabled Learning in Meeting Obama’s 2020 Graduation Goal at the Sloan Consortium’s annual conference on on-line learning occurring on in Everglade State.