Resolution on Massive Open Online Courses and the Teaching of Writing
9 Comments
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Rachael Steeger
11 years ago
I am a student. Writing is important. Even I know that.
C
Christopher Fasolino
12 years ago
Featured
An Italian proverb says, "There are people who know everything, but that is all they know." MOOCs may appear to provide information regarding technicalities of writing, but they lack the humanity and creativity that can give such information real meaning.
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Lisa Lewis
12 years ago
Featured
MOOCs have a purpose and an audience, but not as a substitute for a small writing class where the personal exhange between a teacher and a student is paramount to the student's critical writing success.
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Laurie J. Bergamini
12 years ago
Featured
Don't deprive our university students of the depth and richness of classroom experience.
T
Torrey G. Wuesthoff
12 years ago
The advocacy (even the suggestion) of MOOCs replacing face-to-face writing courses, especially for incoming freshmen, shows ignorance and lack of experience in the actual teaching of writing. If we score by machine, we risk producing (ignorant) machine-minded graduates, limited by the very pedagogy that promises them success.
Such a momentous step requires MUCH research, caution, and reflection. We could be moving literacy backwards even more quickly than our careless electronic media has already managed to do.
Of course, there may be an excellent use for MOOCs (vibrant lecturers should have wider audiences, if the subject suits the medium), but these e-courses should be ancillary to the teaching of writing, not at it's core. We used to seek out lively classroom professors and a good read, but, clearly, that time is passing and will pass more quickly with MOOCs.
E
Elaine Ostry
12 years ago
Let's not water down the art of teaching writing, which is best done in person.
M
Marcia Gottschall
12 years ago
Featured
A great way for some people to learn some information, but not suitable for all or even most students at most places. Feedback is essential for deeper learning and discussions sites are a great part of the process, but so is response and suggestions from an instructor who hopefully has a wider, deeper, more open perspective.
M
Mark Schwartz
13 years ago
Featured
PLEASE STOP THIS. College is about learning from a person not staring at a screen for 3 hours. My prof saved my grades because they actually read my papers.
S
Sarah Jordan
13 years ago
Featured
Writing is a craft that needs real humans looking at the work, not a computer algorithm. You cant automate feedback and expect students to actually grow as writers.
I am a student. Writing is important. Even I know that.
An Italian proverb says, "There are people who know everything, but that is all they know." MOOCs may appear to provide information regarding technicalities of writing, but they lack the humanity and creativity that can give such information real meaning.
MOOCs have a purpose and an audience, but not as a substitute for a small writing class where the personal exhange between a teacher and a student is paramount to the student's critical writing success.
Don't deprive our university students of the depth and richness of classroom experience.
The advocacy (even the suggestion) of MOOCs replacing face-to-face writing courses, especially for incoming freshmen, shows ignorance and lack of experience in the actual teaching of writing. If we score by machine, we risk producing (ignorant) machine-minded graduates, limited by the very pedagogy that promises them success. Such a momentous step requires MUCH research, caution, and reflection. We could be moving literacy backwards even more quickly than our careless electronic media has already managed to do. Of course, there may be an excellent use for MOOCs (vibrant lecturers should have wider audiences, if the subject suits the medium), but these e-courses should be ancillary to the teaching of writing, not at it's core. We used to seek out lively classroom professors and a good read, but, clearly, that time is passing and will pass more quickly with MOOCs.
Let's not water down the art of teaching writing, which is best done in person.
A great way for some people to learn some information, but not suitable for all or even most students at most places. Feedback is essential for deeper learning and discussions sites are a great part of the process, but so is response and suggestions from an instructor who hopefully has a wider, deeper, more open perspective.
PLEASE STOP THIS. College is about learning from a person not staring at a screen for 3 hours. My prof saved my grades because they actually read my papers.
Writing is a craft that needs real humans looking at the work, not a computer algorithm. You cant automate feedback and expect students to actually grow as writers.