We often think or hear of the MOOC as the great equalizer of higher education, a medium to disseminate college-level education to billions, regardless of their income bracket. But recent events should lead us to reconsider this overly-optimistic perspective. In January 2013, just after the announcement that San Jose State University planned to partner with […]
31
Jul
13
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24
Jul
13
Weighing the Cost of MOOCs: Is it Worth the Expense?
Posted by Russ Allen Published in History OnlineMOOCs are supposed to be free, but it appears that for universities and professors, that is hardly the case. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have so far proven to be a huge financial commitment for institutions and according to recent studies, the preparation can be very time consuming for the educators who build them. Financial Commitment The Chronicle of Higher Education has […]
24
Jul
13
The first day of class—most people know what that experience is like: Nerves—Am I in the right place?—Excitement—I’ve heard this professor is really good—Curiosity—Who are these people sitting around me? As an undergraduate student of European History at Dickinson, I’ve only ever had Professor Pinsker once, for a methods course which met once a week […]
22
Jul
13
The Absent Professor: Grading Assignments for MOOCs
Posted by Russ Allen Published in History OnlineAs Massive Open Online Courses continue to gain popularity and media coverage, much of the focus has been on learning online vs. learning in a classroom. However, just as important as learning itself, is how to evaluate the learning. For most MOOCs, this comes in the form of tests and quizzes. The problem presents itself […]
22
Jul
13
New York Times columnist, Thomas Friedman, has always touted his enthusiasm for the MOOC, calling it a “revolution” to sweep the status quo of higher education. In January of 2013, he wrote that MOOCs have the ability to extend access to higher education to the most remote areas of the globe, going as far as to […]
17
Jul
13
Along with the growing popularity of MOOCs, has come a rising debate in regard to their effectiveness. It seems that there is a constant comparison between learning in an online environment and learning in a classroom environment. However, as several new articles suggest, perhaps the best solution can be found in a “hybrid” or “blending” […]
16
Jul
13
In recent media, that has been the question. Although the average completion rate of a MOOC is around 10% (which, for a class of 160,000 students, is pretty good), many in higher education have pointed out there is more to mastering a subject than just simply completing a course. How comfortable are universities with accepting […]
7
Jul
13
New Details about the “First Draft” of the Gettysburg Address
Posted by Matthew Pinsker Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Recent NewsOn Tuesday evening, July 7, 1863, Abraham Lincoln responded to a “serenade” from a crowd outside the White House celebrating the wonderful news received in Washington earlier that day that Vicksburg had finally surrendered to Union forces (actually on the Fourth of July, Independence Day). Speaking extemporaneously, the president struggled to find the right words […]
