NATO MOOC draft concept V 1.1
“I have no use for knowledge that has not been preceded by a sensation” Andre GideAim
To assess the feasibility and utility of NATO MOOCs and Social Learning.
Scope
The purpose of this concept is not to replace the classroom, but to offer an alternative to those for whom travelling to the place traditional lessons are provided is not possible.
Objectives
To plan and run a pilot NATO MOOC including Social Learning elements to create and facilitate collaborative learning.
Method
This document is the result of an online workshop hosted by ACT Innovation Hub from March to XXX 2013. It was collectively drafted by the following Innovation Hub members. (list all those who have and will contribute)
Background : what are Social Learning and MOOC
Social Learning is a learning strategy focusing creating and facilitating interactions among the students who will, share knowledge and experience, help each other, learn from one another, co-create educative contents. In a nutshell, Social Learning crowd sources part of the education to its customers, the students. Today’s online communication and
collaboration technology and resulting social dynamics constitute the backbone of Social Learning. In its most evolved form, Social Learning combines traditional lectures streamed on the internet, with teacher to students and students to students interaction over the social media, and with E-learning static and dynamic material made available online. Based on these elements, Social Learning provides an environment for learning collaboratively.
They are also significantly impacting almost the whole world.
A NATO MOOC, why?
Reach out. Any NATO personnel can attend the course from home of from the work location where Internet access is available.
Availability. Course material and recording will remain available on the Innovation Hub for an extended period of time
Asynchronous learning. a motivating factor is being able to study at your own convenience and pace and that is where social technologies can become a useful replacement to traditional classroom training.
Efficiency. The combination of communication technology and social dynamics provides the students with quality interactive content and a community to interact with and strengthen the learning experience. Online or distant learning is not new and many have already taken online courses. However, the entire concept on education is to make people think. Well, thinking itself is one thing, but thinking alone does not bring things forward. In order to do so one must share his/her thoughts with others. And yes, this is what online platforms allow us to do, sharing thoughts not in one classroom, but without borders. with Communities-of-Practice, dynamic knowledge repositories and instant localization of knowledge workers to help you solve a certain problem. It is more than a lecture, it is more than distance learning, it is more than interactive; it is community based quality social learning.
Cost. It is free to the participants. Instructors wages are significantly reduced by the fact they teach from home. Facility cost is reduced. Communication and online tools drive the only costs.
Standardization. The same instructor can teach all NATO personnel across all NATO nations.
MOOC technique and tools are engrained into the environment and culture of the youngest and future generations of NATO personnel.
Comparison with traditional classroom lessons
Audience building
A MOOC is supposed to be made available to a massive amount of people. However, attracting these people requires a carefully planned audience building phase.
Target audience identification o any NATO personnel
o education and training institutions national
NATO Students Staff o priorities
target audience analysis o expectations o how to address
o what is the best schedule
Information campaign (5-6 weeks before course) o Wish : how to motivate the audience
o Know : what information to provide, what format, what channel o Can : simplify, help
Preliminary community building (4 weeks before course) o engage
o answer questions o technical support
o generate community dynamics o introduce content
o introduce instructors
Course content
The lessons to be given will be chosen by the instructors. The aim is to give from 5 to 10 lessons chosen among the lessons listed in the NATO Social Media User Training Concept.
MOOC elements
Lessons material :
o lessons consist of a live video of the instructor teaching including video, slides or other audiovisual content the instructor want to share with the audience
web material : as many digital course material will be made available to the students as soon as possible in preparation of the lessons. This material will remain available for an indefinite period. It includes,
o General information about the organization of the course technical, organizational
presentation of the Instructors o course material
Video recording of the lessons Other video material
written documents (.Doc, .PDF. pptx) Links to open sources material audio material
interactive material, like exercises created in support of the course. Homeworks
o All the material will be centralized on the Innovation Hub Collaborative Platform
community interaction is key to social learning. It will be supported as follows o during lesson
various communication channels will be offered to the attendees :
questions to the instructor
Chat and tweet : all attendees will be able to interact with each other and the instructor’s assistant through a chat box and a twitter channel.
Assistants will respond to the chat/tweet and may redirect questions to the instructor
o before and after lesson interaction will be hosted on the Innovation Hub Collaborative platform and Social Media
in advance, assistants will interact with the students and prepare them to the lessons. This interaction will cover the technical and organizational aspects of the course
discussions among students will be encouraged their comments on the organization of the course will be welcome.
after the lessons the students will receive homework to do. These homework will be discussed with assistants and the student community
The students’ feedback will be automatically collected and their free comments will be encouraged.
Course organization Place : Online
Time : Nov - Dec
Personnel : Innovation Hub Staff + volunteer instructors
Responsibilities :
o Instructors are responsible for the creation of their respective course content and for the giving the lessons through web video.
o Innovation Hub Staff will assist the instructors for the technical aspects and for the creation of digital course material
o Innovation Hub Staff will organize and facilitate all online community interactions
Training
The Innovation Hub Staff will train the instructors in the use of the online tools as needed.
Material
Online tools
The minimum material required at Instructors’ places will be identified with them and tested in advance.
The minimum material required at the students’ place will be identified by the Innovation Hub Staff and information about it shared with the attendees beforehand.
Lessons recording will be conducted at the Norfolk facility. The adequate software will be acquired if needed.
Interoperability
Translation of lessons and course material will be considered.
Reach out : the audience quantity and diversity be measured and analyzed through - number and origin of viewers of the video stream
- number and origin of the accounts created on the collaborative platform interaction quantity : the interaction will be measured and analyzed through - number and origin of messages received through the video chat box
- number and origin of messages received through the collaborative platform
Participants’ feedback : the participants’ satisfaction will be assessed through an online survey.
Cost : The total cost of the pilot MOOC will be measured A suggestion box will be created on the collaborative platform
Data collected from the pilot MOOC will be compared with data from other usual on site and distance NATO courses.
Assessment findings will be published on the Innovation Hub online platform
