MOOC Update #2

So both courses have started.  I am not sure with work, kids, and life if I am going to be able to participate as fully as I would like in both.  Of the two, the digital storytelling course appears to be the course I can circle back to after the fact.   Not sure what the value is in participating in real-time.  The CCK11 course, however, is one I want to particpate in actiuvely during the sessions.  This includes the live sessions held in Elluminate twice per week but also with other participants as the course is palying out.  I recently stumbled across a post from a CCK11 participant who had 5 goals.  One goal was to “engage with at least 5 CCK11 participants.”  In the spirit of sharing I am going to share this goal with her.   Kristibroom….whats up?!

I believe I have also started narrowing down how I am going to get my arms around making the CCK11 MOOC more practical for me.  I am very attracted to the open and de-centralized nature of these types of courses, but I would be lying if I did not admit I am still struggling with my participation process and how to maximize my learning.  I think the first strategy I will use is a mantra.  The mantra being “how will connectivism impact my work.”  More speciically, how does/could the theory of connectivism be used in my work as the CTO of a public school system and how should this theory translate and be used with public K-12 students?

From -http://www.itdl.org/journal/jan_05/article01.htm

“Our ability to learn what we need for tomorrow is more important than what we know today.”

MOOC Lurking x2

I am going to try to kick start two new year’s resolutions in one with this post. 1) To do more writing, creating, doing this year instead of as much reading, absorbing, connecting and 2) to participate in a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course).

I have selected two courses that I will lurk in to start and see if either or both take.  The first is called ds106.  It is a digital storytelling MOOC called Computer Science 106: Digital Storytelling that is being facilitiated by Jim Groom and others.  I have never taken a storytelling course, let alone a digital storytelling course and  I am very interested to see how this course is influence in general byt being part of a computer science department.  Class starts today (01/10/2011).  I plan on heading over to get started after this post.

The second MOOC is Connectivism and Connective Knowledge 2011 being facilitated by George Siemens and Stephen Downes.  I have been following the work and writing of George Siemens for some time.  I was very upset to miss TEDxNYED last year where he spoke.  I am very much looking forward to participating in this course and better understanding how the concept of connectivism can/should be impacting my work.

Both courses, I believe, have been offered in the past so I should benefit from experiencing MOOCs designed and facilitated by experienced MOOC teachers.  I will be using this blog as a platform for participating in both MOOCs as well as posting my thoughts on these MOOCs and MOOCs in general.