7.4 MOOC - Experiencing Free/Open Source Courses EDTC 601

This week, I was instructed to try a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) for my coursework.  I found one that was interesting about hunting.

The Land Ethic Reclaimed: Perceptive Hunting, Aldo Leopold, and Conservation by Janet Silbernagel, Ph.D., Paul Robbins, Ph.D., Tim Van Deelen, Ph.D.

“The overall goal of this course is to engage you in learning about how wildlife management and recreational hunting play a role in the evolving face of conservation.

Together we will look at the emerging face of hunting today and the modern models of conservation. In doing so, the importance of ethics in guiding management decisions, hunter choices, and the surrounding politics will be presented. We encourage you to reflect on how the use and enjoyment of natural resources has an impact on your communities and how you may get involved and participate in its wonder.”  https://class.coursera.org/perceptivehunting-001/wiki/Course_Guide_%2F_Syllabus

This MOOC is offered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison via Coursera.  It is in a four week format that spanned January 26 to February 22.  However, the course materials are available until March 22 for those that need more time to finish the readings, videos, discussions, quizzes, and hands-on learning.  At the end of the course, participants receive a Statement of Accomplishment if they successfully complete the quizzes.  

I very much like the format of this online learning.  The format of the course is very straight-forward and easy to understand.  All the information and directions are concise and laid out in a simple to follow method.  The links worked when clicked upon.  The reading is available each week for learning; it's listed for the students instead of students having to search the web for appropriate resources.  The course facilitator gives the students an avatar survey for immediate feedback and to prompt discussions.  The weekly videos provided are helpful for the visual learners and spark your interest in the subject matter.  

In this format, I can see constructivism, cognitivism, behaviorism, and brain-based learning educational theories.

The only challenges I can foresee with this format are computer/technological issues at home.  Otherwise, this is a fabulous way to learn and I hope this format carries over into professional development for teachers in the future.