Analysis: Free Open Course Websites
Massachusetts Institute of Technologyhttp://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm
Course URL: http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-837-computer-graphics-fall-2003/index.htm
Open Courses: What Are They?
Distance learners have many technologies available to them; one current trend is the use of Open Course websites. Learners do not receive college credits, but have access to an assortment of subjects and learning experiences at no cost. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers free lectures, exams, and videos with no registration or financial requirements. If key elements are present, in the initial planning process the courses are valuable resources for distance learners. They include analyzing the needs of the learner, essential content, teaching strategies, and an effective online learning environment (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2012).
Distance Learning Course Design
These four factors form the basic structure for a distance-learning environment. The MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) (2012) website planned for these issues by providing links to guided tours for getting started, FAQs, technical assistance, and other avenues to contact the institution to give and receive feedback. In traditional learning environments educators, have the time and resources upfront to analyze the learner’s needs. Open courses do not have the opportunity to analyze current users. However, posting courses from previously taught programs vetted for learners in separate disciplines provide the distance learner with an equivalent level of instruction, “MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) is a web-based publication of virtually all MIT course content” (MIT, 2012).
Since, comprehensive learner characteristics cannot be addressed directly visual aids and tools provide assistance for understanding orienting and instructional context (Simonson et al., 2012).
The website provides a curriculum guide that describes how it addresses essential course content and sequence of information.
This guide will help you understand how MIT sequences its courses within each discipline and what courses MIT requires for a complete program of study. MIT OpenCourseWare provides this guide for informational purposes only. You cannot receive a degree, a certificate, or any kind of credit for your study of courses on OCW. (MIT, 2012)
This information provides the distance learner insight regarding the institution’s goals, objectives and teaching strategies. The website also provides audio, video, and translated courses factors needed to address diverse characteristics of distance learners (for overview, tech support etc).
Recommendations for Online Instruction
- Course Analysis: Computer Graphics (taught in: Fall 2003)
- Instructors: Prof. Frédo Durand and Prof. Barbara Cutler MIT Course Number: 6.837 Level: Undergraduate / Graduate
- Course URL: http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-837-computer-graphics-fall-2003/index.htm
Analysis based on the “Best Practices for Distance Education: Designing the “perfect” Online Course (Simonson et al, 2012, p.191). The course follows the recommendations for online instruction in the following manner:
Structure
- The recommended time of 120 instructor and student hours do not apply - open courses do not provide instructor time and all courses are self-paced
- Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session
- Lessons include more than 4 modules (3 to 5 recommended) each module has more than 5 topics and each topic has at least 1 learning outcome and multiple learning experiences are included
- Provides syllabus and instructor guidance
- Provides an email link for questions on specific pages
- Provides a course calendar
- This course does not provide videos but offers PDFs and web page files that supply additional information and examples for distance learners
- Does recommend a textbook for course and provides the necessary the information to acquire book
- Provides Content guidelines
- Does not provide any animations, discussions, or chats
- No direct interactivity
- Course offers opportunities for assessment - provides exams with solutions
- Assignments have no solutions
- Open courses do not normally provide graded assignments as recommended but the course does offer 2 quizzes
- Does provide opportunities for problem/scenario/situation/ solution through various assignments
- Does not provide an opportunity to create a research related material
- Provides introductions to units
- Readings – provides links to newsletters and other related literature
The course designer implemented course activities that maximized active learning for students on some levels by providing ample practice materials through exams and assignments. However, More video and audio interactivity keeps distance learners engaged and motivated. Only providing PDFs and web page files makes the course appear stagnant.
Because of the nature of distance learning and the separation of the instructor from the students, it is essential that the instructor begin to think visually. Too often, instructors do not place enough emphasis on designing and using quality visual materials. (Simonson et al, 2012, p.159).The content and structure of the MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) (2012) website overall covers the key elements needed to maximize the distance learners experience. It includes considerations for the learner’s needs, essential content, visuals, and other technology resources. Although some courses do not have a high level of interactivity, the educational quality is efficient.
References
Durand, F. & Cutler. B. (2003). 6.837 Computer Graphics, Fall 2003. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA. Retrieved on 03 Feb, 2012 from http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-837-computer-graphics-fall-2003/index.htm
MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) (2012). Retrieved from http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.
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