Hi..I just wanted to share a great website to increase your knowledge base or improve your skills. The website is Coursera. Please do visit the same to know more about it...
I have completed about two courses on the site successfully and presently doing the third one diligently.
The course I am presently undertaking is "English Composition I". This is basically a course on English writing. I am enjoying this course thoroughly and one of the main reasons is its maximum use of technology in uniting individuals from all over the world making the world a classroom!
I don't have much more to say other than go ahead and explore...If you are like me, always in search of what to do or learn, you might just find something ...
Do let me know what you all think of the concept of teaching online ...
We have to be careful with online learning. It is affordable and offers great deal of flexibility. However, if you cannot work without motivation, online learning is not for you.
ReplyDeleteOnline teaching is advantageous. Teacher has the flexibility of location and time. Students will be from all walks of life and from many different countries. This will facilitate interesting conversation. However, it is very impersonal and there is no human to human interaction.
I agree completely with what you say online learning...motivation is a key factor...
DeleteHowever, I disagree with the teaching being impersonal ...at least not today...in this era, I think it is more personal and with a lot of human interaction...not just among the teacher and students but also among students interacting through all sorts of social websites and discussion forums... At some point the students become teachers to each other which seems a much more effective way than relying on one person to do the job!
Look at your college days. Meet classmates daily and gossip for hours. Make fun of professors. Make fun of few students. Give them nick names. Cut classes and go to movies. Help each other when needed. Go to the canteen together and stay there for a long time. Preparing for exams. Combined study. Tears on the last day of college. Love blossoms in some cases. Thrill of attending reunions.
DeleteCan social websites give this pleasure to us?
SG...I didn't mean the online learning as an alternative to college but more as supplementary. I think online learning and interaction is also perfect for adults who work and still have the yearning to learn...There is always something to learn..
DeleteSocial websites give some amount of pleasure, if you are ready to give the time...but I think most people who join the online courses are people who are eager to learn and often don't have time to spend on socialising...
My two pence... social websites give pleasure but in a different way, somehow I feel it is more about acknowledgement these days, or more of an information forum. It is a matter of what do I say, oh I did it, or got it and capture some attention, it can be very impersonal but then... it can be dangerous as well if not careful
DeleteCareful use of time, information and people, I would say as a last word
Ash
All the best for your course! I was away for a week and am already lagging by miles. Looks like I'm not as diligent as I'd wish myself to be.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, two other good sites for online education are:
https://www.edx.org/
http://www.udacity.com/
Haven't got first-hand experience of those yet. I've only used Coursera so far.
Hi Pranab...welcome to my blog! I think I am going to give it up...simply because I cannot seem to juggle my viva preparation with the course...I end up not giving my 100% to the course...So will probably take up some other course when I am little more free...
DeleteHi Aparna
ReplyDeleteThis is information. and two more additional links in the comments. :) Self motivation is a difficult asset to have, if somebody actually masters it, then.. kudos...
Ash
Hi Ash...Hope we do some course together someday. ;)
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