Khan/Koller Review

When I visited the Khan Academy site, I envisioned myself using it as a tool to polish up on some of my math skills. I took the pretest and the program determined what content I had mastered and where I needed to go from there. I plan to use this website with my students. I liked the simplicity of the videos and how Khan casually “thinks out loud” as he explains how to determine the answer. I do think that this site would be helpful to my students because it is easy to follow and learn from. Only time will tell whether Salman Khan is right when he says that in the future we will rely more on “credentialing” through the use of online courses. However, it seems limiting because it can only benefit those individuals that have access to computers. I do believe we are on an upward trend in the use of online courses. Learning online does make learning more accessible for more students. For example, individuals without reliable transportation can benefit from online courses. Individuals that have to work during the day also can still learn, but from their home and within the demands of their schedule. 

   As I explored the Coursera course offerings, I found the number of schools that are participating to be of great interest. The course entitled, “Blended Learning: Personalizing Education for Students” from The New Teacher Center was one that I would consider taking. There were so many that caught my eye…even beginners guitar class at Berklee College of Music. At this time, Columbus State does not appear to accept Coursera transfer credits. I could not find any information about Coursera on either website. I don’t think that Cousera courses appear to be more challenging than others I have taken. Each course gives an estimated amount of time that a student should expect to spend each week on the course. It also states how long the course is. I’m sure a course’s complexity could be influenced by who is teaching it, especially if their teaching style fits most closely to a student’s learning style or personality.

          I believe that MOOCs are the “wave of the future.” It would definitely change the way students would receive their education because of the limitations of social interaction. MOOCs could really change the world as it opens up the door of opportunity for more people through free education.