MOOC, myself and I – Growing my e-heels

T4 IDENTITY TASK

”MOOC what?” was my initial thought when I saw the four letter abbreviation for the first time – i.e. yesterday. This is how flat my e-heels are. My second thought was ”Oh boy!”. Similarly in the beginning of the T2 and T3 tasks a wave of overwhelming despair got my shoes wet. I realized, once again, how much I still have to learn in the world of online learning, teaching, creating learning environments, developing my online teacher identity. Not just vocabulary wise, but also content and context wise. I realize I have miles ahead of me. I choose to look at this from Appreciative Inquiry perspective (Cooperrider, D & Whitney, D., 2005) rather than concentrating on what I don't know; I will take this challenge as an opportunity to learn. I could at this point being overwhelmed and all choose to get rid of my inadequate e-shoes, but I choose to keep my shoes on. I think climbing an e-ladder may sometimes be easier with flats rather than high heels.

After searching information about MOOC online and reading The Pedagogy of MOOCs by Paul Stacey (2013) I have to say that MOOC isn't just great, it is a fantastic invention with enormous innovative possibilities in the global multicultural learning world of the 21^st century. In a not so distant future I could see myself studying in a MOOC learning environment and in a tad more distant future I could imagine myself engaging in a multicultural collaborative manner in creating a MOOC learning environments and cultures. Even though I am by far not (yet) equipped to create any online learning modules in practice – I totally realize and accept the lack in my ICT-skills – that does not prevent me from creating future modules, online courses and learning environments in theory. I choose to keep my current shoes and courageously move forward even if it means I have to tiptoe at times in order to compensate the lack of e-heel height. I also think that T4 will add to my online identity in that I will gain a wider understanding of the different possibilities in EdTech and online learning and also deepen my knowledge and understanding of different learning pedagogies, esppecially when it comes to creating and designing multicultural online learning modules and environments.

I feel that M4 has added and therefore T4 will add to my teacher identity and definitely has helped and encouraged me to grow my e-heels. As for MOOC, cultural factors in online education design and quality check lists; I have not yet communicated with my peers. I am very anxiously waiting other T4 blog posts, reflections and comments so that I can gain more knowledge, information and insight on this topic. Since I am in the very beginning of the MOOC paths and in desigining online modules, I am very keen on hearing your experieces with MOOCs and online module design!? What kind of experiences do you have? How have you been able to utilize your MOOC knowledge and experience in your studies, your teaching, in creating online modules and in developing your teacher identity? Do share!

Cooperrider, D & Whitney, D. 2005. Appreciative Inquiry - A positive revolution in change.

Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc. San Francisco.

Stacey, Paul. 2013. Week 9: The Pedagogy of MOOCs. http://mooc.efquel.org/tag/the-pedagogy-of-moocs/

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/MOOC_poster_mathplourde.jpg