As mentioned in a previous post, several colleagues joined me in the Coursera/University of Toronto course, “Aboriginal Worldviews and Education” back in February and March. (an excellent course by the way – fodder for another post) Our cohort tried to get together online and by teleconference for a weekly discussion. Some were unable to participate as fully as they’d hoped because of family and work responsibilities. One has kept up a correspondence with me expressing regrets and subtle guilt over dropping out. Below is my most recent email to this colleague.
A frequent criticism leveled at MOOCs is the low completion rate. I consider that criticism muddled and unfair. Like you said, you signed up knowing you might not have time to completely participate, because it was free. I say, THAT IS OK.
I disagree with “you don’t want too many people like that signing up”. If 9 out of 10 will drop out, isn’t it much better to have 1500 sign-ups than 150? Signups in these courses cost nothing (except the time invested by the participant, so that’s his/her own business, not the critic’s).
You signed up and found out it was a really great course. That alone was a benefit to you. Beyond that, you continue to engage in this conversation and evidence a strong desire for more participation in the future. Much better you should sign up and find out, than not sign up out of fear of being seen as a failure.
It is totally unfair that the stigma of failure that falls on college students who, having invested time and money traveling to campus and paying fees*, drop out because of inadequate preparation, unfair I say to place that stigma on someone who signs up to a free course to “see how it goes”. Now, I have serious questions about the justice of the stigma placed upon the former as well, but it has even less legitimacy when it is imputed to a voluntary participant who is satisfying a curiosity that may or may not lead to becoming an active member of a learning community this time.
So don’t feel bad about dropping out. I celebrate that you engaged.
Edit: After reading Vanessa Vaile’s comment, I have edited my original title which was,
“Open Letter to a MOOC dropout”.
*Stephen Downes www.downes.ca/post/58698
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Just found this posting: Dropouts Rule
I still like the idea of seizing the term “dropout” and robbing it of the stigma it carries
Thanks for the mention Jim and I’m with Vanessa on the negative terminology surrounding MOOCs. There are plenty of other educational spaces such as museums, art galleries, exhibitions etc where you can just wander in and engage in any way you like without being accused of lurking or dropping out. I think (hope) MOOCs will move in that sort of direction – actually try to be all things to all people, (parallel paths etc), rather than just focus on the traditional’course’ thing. MOOCs have the potential to be something very much better than that.
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So I’m in on the conversation late. Have to agree with Vanessa on the term “drop out”, what if it turns out that the course sucks and the “failure” originates at the other end. I prefer to see online students as brave souls on an unaccompanied journey and it isn’t useful to comment on their decision to branch away when nothing much has been done assist them. Last year at FSLT13 I tried to be of some assistance floating around the discussions to encourage sticking with it and will do this again this year (hopefully with better success). Also, Lise is looking for mentors in POTCERT this year and I wonder if this isn’t a new phase in open learning–the accompanist who step in to jam with your solo performance?
I fell away from a course on “Complexity” offered by the Santa Fe Institute (xMOOC style with a downloadable software program to play with) due to travel commitments and illness last year. What I did finish introduced me to an instructor who taught in a way I understood and this has encouraged me to continue self-study in a field that was frustrating me. The momentary visit to the class established a connection to someone I can follow and learn from into the future. This might also be another step afforded by the internet–the coolness of finding sense makers that fit your needs without having to join some weird cult every week untill the right one comes along:-) Anyway, beats the hell out of the academic “counseling” and useless advice generally offered up by those in the advice business.
Dropout is a term applicable to a world of already decided answers and not something appropriate to the world of exploration. Maybe we could have an honorary designation known as “drop-off” for those who sail too close to the edge and end up amongst the monsters?
Lose the word “dropout” as soon as possible: good intentions aside, using it carries negative connotations. Don’t even call it that. The entire subculture surrounding and discussion about the model need a major terminology overhaul. Do the usual course “taking” verbs even apply?
Write an open letter to an online learner mistakenly self-identifying as a “dropout” … or call them drop-ins, drop-bys…even exploratory or “just in time” learners.
I’m so much more negative about those who won’t take MOOCs for a test drive but have already passed judgement based on dubious second and third hand information. By comparison, the yclept “dropout” shines as a model.
Me? I am an explorer and guilt-free shameless dilettante….beset with curiosity and a magpie mind
Strongly Agree – I’ve edited the title.
I like the “test drive” analogy. And “…guilt-free shameless dilettante” is poetic.