H817Open reflections

Martin Weller

An open course in Open Education

• 7 weeks• Informal and formal learners• Running in OpenLearn• Badges• 2 ALS moderating forums• Blog aggregator• Collaboration-lite activity based

model• Started March 16th

• Also an OER

Student spaces

Course spaces

The #H817Open ecosystem

Mooc Types

cMOOCs xMOOCs

DistributedNetworkPeer focused

PlatformLinearAcademic focused

H817Open?

Some stats

• 239 syndicated blogs• 911 posts• 556 enrolled• 4,698 new visitors• Weekly visitors 1900-450 (200 for last

week)• 13,000 visits• 145,000 page views• 4 registrations on other OU courses• 49 prospectuses requested

Tech Issues

• OpenLearn platform– Speed– Enrol– Screen real estate– Navigation

• Cloudworks & badges• Manual blog adding• Blog platforms

Learner issues

• Connecting with others• Info overload• Being open• Pacing• What is the right

metaphor?

What worked

• Mixing informal and formal learners

• Blog aggregator• Weekly email• Allowing flexibility• Activity based approach• Badges• Live sessions

What I’d do differently next year

• Platform• Initial community/twitter

activity• Advice on reciprocity/engaging• More live sessions• Limit blog options• Update content but largely the

same• More multimedia solutions?

What I’ve learnt

• MOOCs are hard work• MOOCs are fun• I believe in open

To discuss?

• MOOCs are the future of higher education• MOOCs are not sustainable• Course reflections• Learner experience• Would you take another MOOC?• Where would the H817Open approach be

applicable?