Comments for Monastic Musings Too

Comment on Why be surprised about MOOC retention? by Academic Technology Links for June 7, 2013 — Academic Technology

Academic Technology Links for June 7, 2013 — Academic Technology — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 21:02:44 +0000

[…] Why Be Surprised About MOOC Retention? – As it turns out, only about 10% of students finish the MOOCs that they start. MOOC providers are apparently surprised at this, but the author of this post explains some of the novel ways that students in these courses use them, other than for certification purposes. ”MOOCs are ‘Open,’” the author suggests, “in ways their providers didn’t anticipate.” A fascinating read about the notion of openness in these “open” online courses. […]

Comment on Health, Well-Being and Monastic Life: Conversio by Monica Sawyn

Monica Sawyn — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 18:25:35 +0000

Congratulations on 1. identifying the problem and 2. doing something about it. I always figure, give it to God and do what I can with, as my pastor would say, intentionality. Keep up the good work!

Comment on Why be surprised about MOOC retention? by 2U now offers online MOOC courses from top schools for credit | Tim Batchelder.com

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 23:03:17 +0000

[...] Why be surprised about MOOC retention? (edithosb.wordpress.com) [...]

Comment on Jesus: Riding on a Donkey by The stupid donkey | Philippine Thoughts

The stupid donkey | Philippine Thoughts — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 03:25:42 +0000

[...] Riding on a Donkey: Jesus (edithosb.wordpress.com) [...]

Comment on Why be surprised about MOOC retention? by A Few More MOOC Thoughts : The Cranky Sociologists

A Few More MOOC Thoughts : The Cranky Sociologists — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 01:47:49 +0000

[...] check out Sister Edith blog post on why we should not be so hung up about the poor retention / completion rates in MOOCs (the sister [...]

Comment on Why be surprised about MOOC retention? by Educational and social hurdles for MOOCs | louwarnoud

Educational and social hurdles for MOOCs | louwarnoud — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:47:21 +0000

[...] character of the MOOC must have an effect on how anonymous you feel especially in the sense of being seen by the professor of the course. MOOCs lack a social system like a university campus in which they function so for students to [...]

Comment on What next? Nun Attack by Stephen M. Bauer

Stephen M. Bauer — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:07:06 +0000

This is a tangent: I believe that the violence and killing in movies, T.V., and especially video games is at least partly responsible for the level of murders and mass shootings in the country. For more than 50 years, the entertainment industry has been modeling and sending the message that when you get angry enough at someone, you grab a gun and shoot them. Thank God not everyone does this, but I think that statistically there is a certain percentage of people who are too emotionally unstable, under too much street, or lack sufficient self-control who will act out with violence as a result of being conditioned by the media. I don’t know why more people don’t see the connection.

Comment on Why be surprised about MOOC retention? by A Graphical View of Student Patterns in MOOCs | Reason & Existenz

A Graphical View of Student Patterns in MOOCs | Reason & Existenz — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:18:29 +0000

[...] Why be surprised about MOOC retention? (edithosb.wordpress.com) [...]

Comment on Why be surprised about MOOC retention? by Sister Edith

Sister Edith — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:23:48 +0000

I agree with you on the futility of peer grading. In addition to the lack of expertise of the students — a huge drawback — the limited range of assignments graded makes it difficult. On my very first peer grading experience in a MOOC, I reviewed 5 students’ work. Not one of them had done ALL the parts of the assignment. Two overshot the word limit by 100% or more. Two were writing off the top of their head without connection to the content of the course. To me, it looked like one “C” and the rest were no credit.

But I didn’t grade that way because I didn’t feel comfortable taking responsibility for setting the standards for the course, nor empowered to do so.

I was not the only person to have this experience. The feedback I received on my own work said: “Finally: someone who listened to the lectures and carried out the steps of the assignment. You’re the only one.”

I know some of the textbook companies are working on auto-grading (computers to grade standardized assignments). I’m against those (another post later) but at least they could be programmed to maintain some minimum standard.

Thanks for the link to your piece.

Comment on Why be surprised about MOOC retention? by Peer Grading Can’t Work | Virtually Education

Peer Grading Can’t Work | Virtually Education — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:02:01 +0000

[...] Why be surprised about MOOC retention? (edithosb.wordpress.com) [...]