Dive Summary:
- MOOCs are meant to be participatory, but their size and the limitations of interactive technology mean that goal is often tricky to implement.
- The sticking point is that there isn’t a truly interactive, highly social way to bring together students and instructors, although a video chat application called Shindig may change that.
- The app would allow instructors to see students at their desks, and students would be able to see an interact with each other — forming ad hoc collaboration groups or interacting with the students of their choosing in the class.
From the article:
… Cormier added that in a hybrid course that he currently teaches, his students miss the face-to-face interaction they have when they meet online. "When I use these online platforms, we meet face-to-face on Monday and then we meet online on Wednesday, and they complain about not being able to see each other." …