Prioritising Priorities - MOOC vs Real World

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I have just finished all my mid-term activities for Hank Lucas' University of Maryland Surviving Disruptive Technologies. As I have said in my previous post, I have really enjoyed this MOOC although as time has gone progressed, I think the amount of new know I have gained has lessened somewhat, but that can happen as MOOC authors are limited to what they can feasibly fit into the course over such a short period of time. 

Now that I can see other people's submissions as a peer reviewer I think my assignment may just about the miss the required 8 out of 12 for the mid term which will be a bit disappointing. I think if the assessment guidance had made it a bit clearer with respect to the correlation between the answers and the marks, in other words the rubric and I could have had a more strategic stab at it and be safer (or is that an excuse, I leave that up to you to mark me up or down on that!) To receive a certificate you need to get at least 8 out of 12 for your mid-term and 10 out of 14 for your final, which is a little bit disappointing because I think you should get a certificate of completion if you submit both assignments, (maybe I am expecting too much, again I leave it up to you to mark me up or down on that as well!). There has been quite a lot of work on this MOOC, with videos, articles and discussions, all good resources but I could not find how many hours we were expected to devote to this, in the MOOC literature. For me I think it has been between 3 - 5 hours week which I think might be on the lean side. 

Competing with my MOOOCing has been my last ditch attempt to finish my CMALT Accreditation before I go to my new job in June. This is an extensive activity that requires reflection and the collecting of evidence, which will be presented in an online portfolio. I think my involvement in my two MOOCs this year, my current one Surviving Disruptive Technologies and previous one E-learning and Digital Cultures has been the catalyst for me getting back to my CMALT portfolio again, which has been languishing in my digital draw for a while, as MOOCing has got me into the habit of reading and writing again, outside of a work. However, taking on both activities as well as working full time, singing in my choir, my piano lessons and making sure our house does not fall into an unkempt hovel, has led me to reflect on how serious I should take this MOOCing. It is obvious from the differences in the assignments I saw this weekend that some people are committing a lot of time to my current MOOC, possibly over committing, where other, like myself, are finding it more challenging to find time. I have found it very difficult to give anybody less than an 8 because I think they have done well to get as far as the mid-term and submitting something, especially as the drop out rate is so high and I feel that they should get an extra point for sticking the course. However, if I want to stay  true to the assessment approach and the criteria I do not have a choice. I am now wondering if somebody out there is also having the same dilemma over marking my work.   

When we are out together dancing MOOC to MOOC

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Luiciana Ruiva

It was not until somebody said somewhat tongue in cheek yesterday that they liked my blog but that I did not update it regularly enough, I got that blogging guilt feeling. I was so good at blogging during February when I was part of the eLearning and Digital Cultures MOOC, although I did not do a final reflection as promised but I did complete the assessment and got my certificate. However, I have not blogged about the Disruptive Technologies MOOC also run by Coursera, my current MOOC outing. I suppose one of the reasons is because it was Easter and I started a bit late, but isn't that the beauty of MOOCs you can start whenever, well with some that is the case e.g. Saylor Foundation, however with Coursera you are bound by dates and times if you want to fully participate. I have been trying to play catch-up, I am almost there about half a week behind at the moment.

I think with eLearning and Digital Cultures, which was created using a curatorial approach, according to Jeremy Knox from EDCMOOC team, it had some excellent resources which I wanted to share, blogging for me seemed the best way to do this and I could integrate a bit of reflection at the same time. In addition, I was unable to contribute to the discussions as I normally would, as they were vast and too open, so I used my blog and Twitter to chrystallize my thoughts. I think, also, I found the concepts presented quite challenging, initially I think I did not have the patience for this, I wanted something more practical, possibly because when you are working full-time and have over 100 mile round commute it is difficult to muster the brain energy. In the end I did quite enjoy the theoretical challenge, it reminder me of my Sociology degree, although I was quite selective with respect to what I focused on. I was a bit disappointed about the lack of community despite valiant hard work attempts by participants, but unless there is some system that forces you into groups, I think Twitter is the only manageable back up. For those who would like to see the assessment outputs of this MOOC here is mine and a link to other participants.

• Feminism and Technology Site self created site that begins to look at technological determinism within a feminist framework and self created animation
• Artefacts Created by MOOCers on the course

The University of Maryland's MOOC run by the engaging Hank Lucas and his side kick dog Frankie...yes dog, is more practically focused. It looks at how well-known companies succeeded and failed in the context of disruptive technologies. I am on week 2 and so far there we have looked at the demise of Kodak, and the comparative rise and falls of Borders and Amazon, Netflix and Blockbusters. We have also been introduced to the Survivor Model

A company’s survival depends on an early move to either adopt an entirely new business model or morph the existing model to take advantage of the disruptive innovation. The latter option, said Lucas, is more feasible and has been the approach of the early survivors.

And the box score to analyse the industries which scores the incumbent's dilemma (Board of Directors, CEO and employees) out of ten (1 low 10 high) within the context of adopting new technologies on their:

• Denial with respect acknowledgement of new technology/innovation
• History with respect to using innovation and/or changing business model
• Resistance to change
• Mindset, openness with respect new innovation
• Brand, the strength
• Sunk Costs, the amount need to invest
• Profitability, how profitable previously 
• Lack of imagination

 I feel the Disruptive Technologies MOOC in comparison to Digital Cultures has been more thought provoking rather than thought challenging. For some this course may be a little bit dry but for me this has got me thinking about my own practice and professional approach as a middle manager, that currently manages a team of innovators within an inherited bureaucracy Higher Education, which also wants to push innovation. I, also, the like delivery, I felt distanced from those that delivered the Digital Cultures MOOC, there was a lack of tutor presence. However, Hank Lucas' (with Frankie) personable presentation, together with his video integrated slides and his scribbling on the slides as he talks, does replicate better the tutor presence, even though it is recorded, but it might not be to everyone's taste and you may want to change your MOOC partner and start another dance.