Updates on EdTech and MOOCs

I had posted an introduction to MOOCs and some other presentations from Technology workshops at NIIIT University for faculty earlier (here).

This month in the technology workshop we coverd a little generic perspective on Edtech and MOOCs.

EdTech and MOOC updates from Akhlesh Agarwal

Slide 2: In the definition of Edtech from Wikipedia we can clearly see that EdTech is much more than just eLearning. And it should help improve the way we engage with students.

Slide 3: When I was trying to search some important technologies that are changing the way we teach and learn, then I see that MOOCs are being talked as the most important technology or concept. Further search on MOOCs shows that there is so much Buzz around them. While critics are also saying that they are being overhyped, but still they need a serious consideration by anybody in education world.

Slide 4: A quick look at four of the biggest MOOCs in the world today. If I compare some of the data about these MOOCs from the four month presentation (here), then I see that they have grown with unbelievable speed. E.g. Coursera has become double from 100 to 200+ courses in just 4 months.

Slide 5: The main highlight here is the point in the middle. If students get credit for the courses they have completed on MOOCs it will revolutionize the university education system and will have major financial changes. Some people have started talking about the meta-university concept, that will also gel with the MOOCs phenomena.

Slide 6: The news items that you can find on so many cases of funding from Gates and other foundation also firms up the belief that EdTech is getting serious attention from charity funds as well as venture funds.

Slide 7: In early days of elearning it was being promoted by elearning companies as “Anytime anywhere” learning. But why “pure elearning” never became successful was because too much flexibility resulted in “Never nowhere” Learning. MOOCs like coursera and such are blending the flexibility of elearning with the discipline of classroom learning because students are supposed to complete their study and submit assignments on defined time. This blending is one of the key factors for their success.

Slide 8: And MOOCs have something positive for all stakeholders from students to teachers to MOOC providers to universities who are not offering such MOOCs.

Slide 9: The social impact of these MOOCs is huge because of their Massive reach.

Slide 10: Predictions

Slide 11: Some good links for those educators who are starting with the EdTech.

Slide 12:  :)

Thanks

Akhlesh.agarwal@gmail.com

Why use EdTech tools

Long time back I remember seeing this poster in the library of my office. It said “If the hammer is the only tool you have, you tend to look at each problem as a nail”. I am sure you must have seen or heard this in many places. The point is that if you have more tools than just a hammer; say a screw driver, a drill, a spanner, a saw and so on, then you can be a better handyman than the one who just has a hammer. To further stretch the discussion if you have different sizes of screw drivers including the power screwdriver and same for drill machines etc etc, then you will not only be more effective but also more efficient.

Now lets take the same analogy to educational tools. Traditionally the main tool we have always seen in education is using chalk and blackboard by the teacher, and then a library for self study content for students. That worked quite well when I was in school.

But now as the problems around us are getting more and more complicated, the expectations from the education system are also increasing to handle new complexities, and more importantly bigger scales to teach a much larger set of students. So instead of using just traditional tools of blackboard and physical books, if a teacher can also use a host of edtech tools like powerpoint, videos, simulations, gaming, online quiz and so many other collaboration tools, then that teacher can be LOT more efficient and effective compared to the one who uses just backboard and physical books.

One important thing to note here is that addition of these tools is not replacing the old tools. So a blackboard and physical books will continue to be used in the education process, but usage of new tech tools gets added to the usage of old tools.

Also, while educational technology is providing these tools in the hand of the teacher. It has to be combined with the right pedagogy and training for teacher so that they can decide the right tool for the right problem and take the education delivery to the next scale.