Most recent public comments by Ashley O'Neil https://nowcomment.com/users/25141 https://nowcomment.com/documents/65469?scroll_to=640044 https://nowcomment.com/documents/65469?scroll_to=640044 I can completely see your point. It is hard for me to associated a person with the names that I see on the screen as well. On the other side of that, however, I will say that a positive can be the breadth of experiences that I have. While I may not develop as deep of an understanding of my classmates this way, I will say that I found that I interact with more people through my online classes; often people that I would not have the opportunity to engage with otherwise. I agree with what you said about the "judgment" side of things as well. It is nice to feel that academic anonymity sometimes. I feel fewer of the social rules that may keep me from responding to a comment or from engaging in a conversation with another person. The anonymity can pair down the other factors that can create a social culture in a classroom, so while there may be less of a connection, what is left can also be more focused as well. I find myself missing the connectedness as you do, while reveling in the positive sides to this kind of environment as well. Thu, 15 Dec 2016 11:04:18 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/65469?scroll_to=640041 https://nowcomment.com/documents/65469?scroll_to=640041 I love the idea of using this resource to expose your students to "college life". At the university we commonly talk about the importance of getting kids on campus and exposed to what college has to offer. I agree that this is especially true of students who may not have parents sharing those prior experiences or who may not otherwise have the opportunity. This gets at the "soft skills" that can go along with opening educational resources to more students. Students seeing these resources from places like MIT may start to feel like college is not such a foreign concept. They may even start to identify themselves as a future college goer. "I've seen what classes have to offer. This is what the teaching is like. I've 'taken' a course from a school already." Allowing students to engage in an OER can demystify the experiences somewhat. I like this idea a lot. Thu, 15 Dec 2016 10:59:27 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/65469?scroll_to=638062 https://nowcomment.com/documents/65469?scroll_to=638062 I think that is movement is starting, but has not reached formal higher education. There are so many courses available online for learning specific skill sets. Most are free or very low cost. It reminds me of that parallel world we often talk about in literacy. Are we starting a culture of people who earn their degree to earn a degree, while learning skills and topics of interest through alternative means? Or are these two threads becoming more connected, allowing learners to get the best the both have to offer? Tue, 17 Oct 2017 09:31:24 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/65469?scroll_to=638061 https://nowcomment.com/documents/65469?scroll_to=638061 I can see this being an honest problem for a lot of sites. I have been that teacher who has relied on a source, only to find it gone or not working from year to year. With the desire to keep a resource free, comes the struggle to pay or find a passionate party to keep of the information and site. Mon, 19 Dec 2016 11:21:31 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/65469?scroll_to=638060 https://nowcomment.com/documents/65469?scroll_to=638060 OER is the start of Open education for everyone. I believe the the resources that have been build online have, in many cases, been intentionally done to break down barriers and increase their accessibility. The other side of this, however requires us to consider how people access to resources that are available to everyone. Also, there are some assumed skill sets involved with this particular type of learning. The example given, and many of the examples I know are for those who are both literate and able to navigate a computer. Certain tech requirements exists, which eliminates a portion of the population, as well as an awareness gap. There are great sites like Instructables that teacher specific skills sets, but unless you are a member and are aware of the free courses option, you would not know. Those who are savvy enough to find these resources are not always the most in need of them. There are some great opportunities online, however, for both academic and life skills. Instructables is one of my favorites; I am currently learning how to sew for free, and I also took portions of a 3D printing course. Kahn Academy provides great tutorials online for math. I also know of individuals who use specific sites that allow them to audit college courses. All of these sites provide free and extensive opportunities for people who are looking for a help with specific skills. A friend of mine recently told me about Google Art Project and a site run by the Smithsonian. Both provide students with the experience of walking through museums from the comfort of their computer screen. Open Education Resources are a great start to leveling the playing field and providing opportunities that are as good as (or nearly) the "real thing". There are just a few more steps in getting access to teachers, families, and individuals while building awareness of their availability. Fri, 16 Dec 2016 19:40:09 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/63711?scroll_to=602792 https://nowcomment.com/documents/63711?scroll_to=602792 Several words are often used in education; grit, perseverance, growth mindset. We often use these words hoping to help our students to see their way through challenging tasks. How does this article fit with this task? Do students have a perception of "happy" that translate in the classroom? Sat, 29 Oct 2016 08:36:48 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/63711?scroll_to=602789 https://nowcomment.com/documents/63711?scroll_to=602789 How does this mentality apply to our students? Do they differentiate between satisfaction, value, interest, passion, and "happiness"? How does this affect their perception of activities in the classroom? Sat, 29 Oct 2016 08:36:48 -0400