More on MOOCs

As I do from time to time I examine new MOOCs as they come out. A recent one was of great interest but I was sorely disappointed. Here are the reasons:

1. The Video was Chaos. The Instructor had the habit of walking from left to right and then back again, while writing on a blackboard. The video tracked him and his one was seeing a constant flash of the marks on the board while watching the movement and attempting to understand what he said.

2. There is no text and there are no notes. A student asked why and in a slightly surly manner a TA responded that they felt you learned better by taking notes. Perhaps but also perhaps someone would tell the video person that the note should be visible and not just to follow the Brownian motion of the Instructor. I believe that having some form of content on line would help. Especially for international students. But there seems to be a bit of arrogance that is less than helpful.

3. Chaotic Content: This has to deal with DNA analysis using various tool kits available to the bench biologist. Now the result is akin to using a CSHL Lab book, following the protocol, and hopefully filling in the gaps.

4. Quizzical Class: The Instructor would ask a question of the MIT students and apparently there were few if any that even tried to answer. This feedback should have an affect on the Instructor. It did not.

5. Why? Here is where the engineer separates from the scientist. We engineers ask why, bench people ask what and how. Why does a certain protocol work, and why one is better than another. Such a discussion is missing.

6. Lander and his exposition is still a sine qua non. Lander is like listening to a symphony, like listening to Shakespeare, and this was like listening to some reality TV program. Why? The Instructor is quite well known, he has even written the book that the on campus folks use. Why the disconnect? Good question. Perhaps there should be some feedback.

Remember, if all else fails, listen to the customer.