tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1205704315435201054.post4805489399875828007..comments2023-10-25T10:41:58.335+01:00Comments on Thoughts and Ramblings: #ELTchat Summary 24th September 2014Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381642772447768090noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1205704315435201054.post-79614996062722604652014-09-29T22:08:42.397+01:002014-09-29T22:08:42.397+01:00Lesley, you make the same points that I'd make...Lesley, you make the same points that I'd make myself. In fact I've heard many other teachers with similar points of view. I have taken part in some excellent Moocs, and yet been really fed up when no-one else posts- or else waits until others post before regurgitating the same ideas. I also hate ones where people can start and end when they like. It means that these people get no interaction, but just benefit from what went before- and then pick up the same certificate. Okay- rant over :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10381642772447768090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1205704315435201054.post-38973281907603166282014-09-29T21:06:02.715+01:002014-09-29T21:06:02.715+01:00Reading through your excellent summary, I reflecte...Reading through your excellent summary, I reflected on what factors motivate me and what turn sme off online courses (including, but not only, MOOCs):<br /><br />- Size: I feel there is some magic number for effective interaction - between instructor and participants, and amongst participants - too few and there isn't enough variety, too many and the interaction gets too diffused and/or chaotic.<br /><br />- Time & Pace: as with size, there is a sweet spot for time and pace. Like Marisa, I find the pace can be too fast to effectively engage and if you get behind you feel lost and it's then easiest to withdraw. Too slow and you can lose interest. But this is quite personal and whether something is too fast or too slow will depend on how much time I have, and how much prior knowledge. <br /><br />- For me, cost isn't so much of a factor. I've dropped out of courses I've paid for because I just couldn't manage the commitment at the time, and I've stayed the distance with a free course when I have had the time and motivation. <br /><br />- Other participants slacking off can definitely be a turnoff. I've been on courses where I've been the only one posting, and in one the instructors even stopped - hardly interaction! <br /><br />Other thoughts...<br />- There are MOOCs and there are MOOCs. The quality is questionable in many, and lots are little more than a series of reading or listening comprehension exercises. <br />- I don't think we're quite at the stage where competition is raising the standard. Instead I think we're still in a 'saturate the market' phase. Let's hope this changes soon.<br />- I find it laughable that as the budgets of government funded institutions (in Australia at least) are getter tighter, and teachers are being asked to find ways to bring more money in through commercial projects, there is a call from high up to offer free training through MOOCs! <br /><br />Thanks Sue. Thanks #ELTchat folk :-)Lesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05398883659899214375noreply@blogger.com