TEL 20 th January 2014 Claire Rocks and Jane Sinclair but more later Department of Computer Science University of Warwick United Kingdom jesinclairwarwickacuk clrockswarwickacuk ID: 405673
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Slide1
The Computing for Teachers MOOC
TEL 20
th
January 2014
Claire Rocks and Jane Sinclair (but more later!)
Department of Computer Science
University of Warwick
United Kingdom
j.e.sinclair@warwick.ac.uk
c.l.rocks@warwick.ac.ukSlide2
Plan for the talkBackground
- not all MOOCs are the same! Why this MOOC? Aims. The team!The MOOC - how it’s structured; how it’s going so far.The outreach storyLessons learned/skills needed
Cost and other resourcesWhere we are now and future plans.Slide3
CfT
MOOC – background
For a specific target audience and identified need
To help support UK teachers in preparation for the new computing curriculumPrevious twilight course – need to reach more people, provide more resourcesDistinct advantages
- identified community - competent autonomous learners - might assume some relevant digital skills - highly motivated (Some) funding from GoogleSlide4
What is a MOOC?
Massive
Open
Online
Course
First applied to “
Connectivism and Connective Knowledge” course in 2008(Downes and Siemens)
from 5 - 300,000+massive for contextmore than would otherwise have the opportunityfree – cheaper - neither?no barrier to enrolment,
no geographical limitations
o
pen resources
no
prerequisites
natural development into offline communities
taking advantage of physical space
s
tructured program for learning
a
ssessment/feedback
r
ole of instructor/community support
accreditationSlide5
Decisions in planning the CtF MOOC
Moodle as a platform – Vimeo for video hostingCourse to cover Teaching Agency requirements for trainee teachers and to teach Python programmingMaterial divided into 8 main sessions - plus a “pre” session as an introSessions to be released fortnightly (with a break over Christmas) (teachers very keen on this!)Three strands – concepts, programming and teachingMaterials: header videos, teaching videos, slides, transcripts, quizzes, labs (and solutions), forums, lots of links to other resources
These materials all freely available to all registered – they can download, reuse etc. Slide6
To help students learn programming“Real time” lab sessions with tutors online using Google hangoutPostgrad/postdoc tutors working with small groups of teachers
For this mode also – special forum, final assessment and workshopNeeds to be sustainable – we are charging a nominal amount for teachers on this modeAccess to all materials and other parts of the course – the same Supported modeSlide7
Initial development and teaching teamRuss Boyatt, Matt Leeke, Claire Rocks and Jane Sinclair
Making it work (editing, reviewing – generally everything!)Jonny FossInfrastructure Russ with kind allocation of time by Amber Thomas
Video teamWith thanks to Ray and all the team at WBS. Also, Emily Little for training continued…
A cast of thousands (nearly!)Slide8
PhD team (and Jonny)A group of our finest (lab experience), developing labs, facilitating hangouts.
TranscriptionLee Prangnell (PhD student)Admin staff
Departmental admin staff, eg help setting up registration/payment. Lots of admin input from Claire too Input to “teaching” strand”Teachers, LA CS coordinator, Computing at Schools, BCS, Cyber Security Challenge UK, e-skills.com,…
… and more! Slide9
Launched intro at the very end of October 2013Registration
Traditional 618Supported 30Total 648Further requests to register turned down
200 have never logged inCurrently, coming up to release of Session 4A tough timetable for both us and the students!
How it’s going so farSlide10
Preliminary evaluation: programming backgroundSlide11
Preliminary evaluation: teaching backgroundSlide12
Preliminary evaluation: online learning experienceSlide13
Preliminary evaluation: demographic data - ageSlide14
Concepts
Programming
Labs
HeaderSlidesTransQuiz
SlidesTransQuizLab a
Lab bLab c282184
20270
12521014550420747365453
313
271
45
109
84
299
105
57
260
249
157
146
Participation: accesses for sessions 0 - 2
Session 0
Session 1
Session 2Slide15
Concepts
Programming
NumbersubmittedAverage score
Number submittedAverage score
Session 11257.6599
7.93Session 2839.18
727.83Participation: quizzes
Several topics of difficulty uncovered (using hex, units of storage in practice, types)One area of misunderstanding/question probably not appropriate Slide16
Numbers vary between 0 and 4 per sessionDisappointing!Need to investigate further
HangoutsSlide17
Introductory session (40 responses)Right level – strongly agree/ agree 98%Well produced –
strongly agree/ agree 98%Provided a good intro – strongly agree/agree 100%Examples of positive commentsgood to see “faces”
gentle intro, not too overwhelminguse of simple examples, avoidance of computing jargonExamples of negative commentswould have liked overview of topics and timetable
more formal assignment to introduce themselves on foruman initial exercise to get on withSession evaluations so far - introductionSlide18
Introductory session (27 responses)Right level – strongly agree/ agree 100%Well produced
– strongly agree/ agree 93%Helpful for learning these topics – strongly agree/agree 100%Examples of positive comments
the programming stepspracticals and quizzesalthough covering basics, it was non-patronising and challengingExamples of negative comments
shorter videossnappier presentationa handy quick look-up guide would be goodstruggling to get through everything
Session evaluations so far – session 1Slide19
There are lots of changes to the way computing is taught in schoolsA major part of the department’s outreach activity is to support teachers through those changesCAS & Network of ExcellenceBuilding relationships and reputation with teachers, professional bodies, awarding bodies, colleagues at other universities
Linking to our outreach agendaSlide20
Linking to our outreach agendaSlide21
PedagogicalDifferent way of teaching. Having to be more structured up front. Mapping to the Teaching Agency requirements. Different audience. Not able to respond to instant feedback in the classroom. Sense checking of sessions
TechnicalGetting to grips with Moodle and features. Making and editing video/audio recordingsManagement & AdministrativePlanning and coordination of activity, setting up the logins, weekly emails, taking payment, keeping motivated
Skills neededSlide22
What it really cost
Finger in the air… approx. £22,000
Staff time/in-kind support more than 1.5x funding
Based on approx. 15 hours staff time to create single session (not including edits or lab development or hangouts) + technical support + weekly meetings + administrationSlide23
Camera & tripod/audio recorder + microphones + suitable locationsPresentation software and template – mostly PowerPointLecture capture & microphone (USB soundcard?) – mostly CamStudioVideo/audio editing softwareSomewhere to host the video –
Vimeo ProPlatform – MoodleServerProgramming environment – custom made but using SkulptResource email account
What resources did we need?Slide24
It’s a great thing to do – but don’t underestimate the effort/resourcesGet buy-in (and dedicated time, commitment to resources) from line managementIssues of platform – “doing it yourself” obviously means more effortProject management needed!
We needed to develop skills (eg: making video recordings, different ways of teaching, subject/audience). Different way of working.Our ideas may not be what is most useful for what teachers want or how they work – what do students find useful?
What we’ve been learningSlide25
They don’t have much time (in general, schools are not releasing them, sometimes not even crediting the CPD)Many are not keeping up with the materials (even though we think it’s quite gentle and well-spaced)Even a number of those on the paid mode haven’t really engaged from the start
The supported mode is not really working. Why?Assumptions about their preparedness/digital skills may not be rightWide range of abilities and existing skillsWhat we’ve learned about the teachersSlide26
First task is to complete the remaining sessions of the current courseEvaluate data collected during this run of the course teachersGather further feedbackReconsider possibilities for a future run :
Adapt according to evaluationDiscontinue supported mode?More effort into support for main mode (forums, emails)More resources
Link to accreditationWhere next?