tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post4292676686913045957..comments2024-03-26T23:41:10.319+00:00Comments on Authors Electric: Moocs: Have you done one yet? by Chris LongmuirKatherine Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-62114391973925500082016-02-20T10:27:25.734+00:002016-02-20T10:27:25.734+00:00Thanks, Chris: You've laid this out with such ...Thanks, Chris: You've laid this out with such clarity I've sent it on to a couple of my daughters who have been interested in online learning. I often find myself writing a story that requires way more than I know about a given subject, be it robotics or the 80-Years War. I've always been a DIY guy when it comes to exploring topics and added skill, except for extension courses I used to take. I never tried a MOOC, but now I will. Umberto Tosihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939504157464234443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-15199606229727371782016-02-20T08:35:57.016+00:002016-02-20T08:35:57.016+00:00Thank you, Chris. I love these courses! I have tak...Thank you, Chris. I love these courses! I have taken part in several, not all university-based: an excellent radio playwriting course, a poetry-writing course by Second Light (in the middle of that one now and it's great, and am about to start one on screenwriting (A MOOC). If nothing else, they keep the brain engaged and ticking over, but I have also learned a lot.Sandra Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01761260568729338471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-73016475701842891142016-02-19T11:48:07.475+00:002016-02-19T11:48:07.475+00:00Thanks Chris for spreading the word - a great tool...Thanks Chris for spreading the word - a great tool for research for writers. Yes I'm a MOOC fan too, and like Chris have done a couple of forensic crime-related ones including the excellent murder investigation course. They are not all as good, there's quite a bit of variety - I tried to do a cyber security one but it wasn't so well put together - one minute explaining very simple things, the next assuming a very high level of expertise in the inner workings of the cyber world - the great thing is, they are free and you can drop out or in any time you like with no repercussions. the murder investigation one took up quite a lot of time but it was time well spent - you can go at your own pace and take much longer over the course if you are short of spare time as most of us are. Lydia Bennethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328239009863878547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-79701700112302148742016-02-19T11:27:58.822+00:002016-02-19T11:27:58.822+00:00I did one on investigating a murder, on your recom...I did one on investigating a murder, on your recommendation, Chris. It was excellent -it really took you into the case, with videos of the scene, and made you question the obvious assumptions and the evidence. It was Strathclyde University.<br />I keep getting the emails from FutureLearn and keep meaning to check out what's on offer - but like Mari and Jan, I feel I have neither the time mor the brain-space. But next time one drops into my mailbox, maybe I should take a look...Susan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738737493756183909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-43712395404236002612016-02-19T11:23:44.077+00:002016-02-19T11:23:44.077+00:00I'm another convert to FutureLearn. They offer...I'm another convert to FutureLearn. They offer so many courses, and they're so varied. I've followed 3 so far, including the forensic one and, while I'd love to have spent more time entering into the discussions with others, I resisted the temptation because it could eat up so much time. I'm sure it would have been time well spent but it's all about prioritising. They're very stimulating and, from each one I've taken at least one idea or technique which I've used either in my own writing or in literacy workshops I give as an RLF Fellow. I join Chris and the others in recommending them, even to people with full brains, Jan.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345949773423764808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-42782309844706907932016-02-19T10:33:14.153+00:002016-02-19T10:33:14.153+00:00thanks for the tip-off. but i fear my brain is alr...thanks for the tip-off. but i fear my brain is already full!Jan Needlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15823078224282953782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-58990276753949365902016-02-19T10:31:22.604+00:002016-02-19T10:31:22.604+00:00Ever since you first mentioned these, Chris, I'...Ever since you first mentioned these, Chris, I've meant to check them out - the one you're doing now would definitely have interested me! So many thanks for this post and the links! Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-13391639532484899532016-02-19T10:00:52.652+00:002016-02-19T10:00:52.652+00:00I did the Introduction to Forensic Science course,...I did the Introduction to Forensic Science course, too, and was impressed by how it managed to make the subject accessible - even to me! Given that it was free, I can't praise it enough. I'd definitely recommend Future Learn to anyone who has the time to spare (which is a problem, admittedly...).Mari Biellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14221256993468150226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-91712498593805448362016-02-19T08:55:57.060+00:002016-02-19T08:55:57.060+00:00Great post Chris. I too love MOOCS. I've learn...Great post Chris. I too love MOOCS. I've learnt so much through doing them Wendy H. Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04022089775887274043noreply@blogger.com