2013.02.21 07:00 - MOOCing with others

The Guardian for this meeting was Storm Nordwind. The comments are by Storm Nordwind.
 

(Starting in the Kira Cafe while our sim reboots.)

(Back in the pavilion.)

Xirana Oximoxi: 's current display-name is "Xirana".

Catrinamonblue Resident: 's current display-name is "Catrinamonblue".
Xirana Oximoxi: it's easier to get the chat log
Storm Nordwind: yes!
Catrinamonblue Resident: :)
Xirana Oximoxi: :)
Storm Nordwind: I think if I had five flowers, I would hold one and give the other four away. :)
Xirana Oximoxi: ahhh that's another question!! I've understood that each flowers was like one year of PaB!
Xirana Oximoxi: :))
Storm Nordwind: Yes
Catrinamonblue Resident: I used to work for a flower shop, every September they have what they call a nieghbour day where they give roses away :)
Xirana Oximoxi: and then how to arrange them to show the 5th Birthday:)
Xirana Oximoxi: holding flowers to others connect with the topic of the week :)

Exploring with others.

Storm Nordwind: PaB may be about an exploration that one can do by oneself. But it is surely about being with other people on that journey too.
Catrinamonblue Resident: nods
Xirana Oximoxi: yes.... sure ..even if so different people there's a sense of a group
Storm Nordwind: My question is whether PaB is still about exploring something fundamental to Being, or whether it has become just another social club. :)
Catrinamonblue Resident: Being so new to PaB to me it is exploring and social together
Storm Nordwind smiles and nods
Xirana Oximoxi: in my view may be both...but I am sure that for a lot of us, talking here is a way to understand being much better
Catrinamonblue Resident: others as mirrors to bounce ideas from
Storm Nordwind: Good answers!
Xirana Oximoxi: :)
Xirana Oximoxi: maybe in our exploration we don't look for high intelectual answers....but our thoughts may be more useful in dayly life
Xirana Oximoxi: I connect it with what has been said lately, that PaB is not a debat group
--BELL--
Xirana Oximoxi: understnding it as a more structured exploration of any subject

Storm the bluffer.

Storm Nordwind wouldn't understand a high intellectual answer anyway! ;)
Xirana Oximoxi: :)
Xirana Oximoxi: I'm sure you would, Storm :)
Catrinamonblue Resident: :)
Storm Nordwind is a good bluffer ;)
Xirana Oximoxi: looking for 'buffler :)
Xirana Oximoxi: buffalo?
Storm Nordwind: To bluff is to pretend and deceive. Like in a game of poker. A bluffer pretends they know something or can do something, and convinces other people, when really they can inept or ignorant! :)
Storm Nordwind: *when they are really ...
Xirana Oximoxi: aha..ok, I understand:)... :)
Xirana Oximoxi: but don't agree...of course:))
Storm Nordwind chuckles
Catrinamonblue Resident: :)

Those who know.

Storm Nordwind: Many people hide their ignorance because they want to belong to a group. I'm just honest and up-front about it!
Storm Nordwind: I learn more by telling people I don't know things and inviting them to educate me.
Storm Nordwind: Unfortunately I also forget most of what they tell me, so I have to ask them again later! :)
Xirana Oximoxi: I usually don't feel comfortable with people that seen to hold all the reason and all the knowledge and that make you feel ignorant
Storm Nordwind nods
Storm Nordwind: Sometimes people like that are insecure.
Storm Nordwind: They are frightened of letting go of their knowledge
Xirana Oximoxi: yes...that can be , or that they really believe it. and in this second case...I've learned to never discuss... there's no way they listen
Catrinamonblue Resident: they don't realize the have no knowledge to begin with
Catrinamonblue Resident: people do change, and one who did not listen before (blinders on) has started to listen now and change is happening causing happiness for both
Storm Nordwind: That's OK. Invite them to talk. The brighter ones among them will realize they will talk themselves into a hole! And perhaps it will make them a little more humble as a result. Who knows. I guess one can be compassionate towards them as to others :)
Catrinamonblue Resident: yes Storm :)
Catrinamonblue Resident: Compassion and Patience seem to be the key when dealing with them
Storm Nordwind: And with oneself, I find!
Catrinamonblue Resident: nods
Xirana Oximoxi: yes...I suppose that talking in general it's the best attitude...:)
--BELL--
Storm Nordwind: And I wonder what they think of me. Do they see me as aloof? Or interested? As condescending? Or ignorant? A potential friend? Or just an audience they can perform in front of?
Catrinamonblue Resident: Sometimes they are so wrapped up in their own place they don't see you as anything!!
Xirana Oximoxi: somehow, when you find someone that thinks that all he says is the right thing... it's difficult to discuss...because I don't have the same perception....I don't have the right answer or the clues for a lot of things
Xirana Oximoxi: :)
Storm Nordwind nods
Catrinamonblue Resident: yes Xiri
Storm Nordwind: You need to start with "common ground". That is true in business too, when negotiating. Perhaps some shared knowledge. Or a shared value. Or a common goal.
Xirana Oximoxi: ah yes...good strategy :)

MOOCs.

Xirana Oximoxi: I've subscribed to a MOOC course about how to argue:)...the title of the course is 'Think again" :-)
Storm Nordwind: But... you both have to want to find that common ground. Both of you. Or it doesn't work! If only one is willing, then maybe it will be less productive!
Catrinamonblue Resident: agree Storm :)
Xirana Oximoxi: https://class.coursera.org/thinkagain-2012-001/lecture/index
Storm Nordwind: What is MOOC?
Xirana Oximoxi: MOOC = Massive Open Online Course
Xirana Oximoxi: for free
Xirana Oximoxi: with best teachers of a lot of universitites
Xirana Oximoxi: it's a mode actually...all universities are preparing free courses
Storm Nordwind: Ah yes... it's a coursera... one of several things like that I seem to remember
Xirana Oximoxi: I agree with your last sentence Storm...if there's not interest in both parts...no way :)
Storm Nordwind smiles and nods
Xirana Oximoxi: Thre's quite a large discussion about how this new way of online teaching/learning will change the education
Storm Nordwind: It must be a lot of hard work for them, for which they don't get paid. Why do you think they do it?
Xirana Oximoxi: I've just has a look at this one about arguing...and I've liked the teachers and the way they prepare it
Xirana Oximoxi: it's a way to get a big promotion for teachers and universitites
Storm Nordwind: A bit like "freemium" software?
Xirana Oximoxi: teachers, if they do well...get an audience of 40,000 to 100,000 students
Storm Nordwind: Wow!
Catrinamonblue Resident: wow
Xirana Oximoxi: and some courses are really well prepared
Xirana Oximoxi: yes...wow...that's part of the discussion too:)... how to have 'interaction' with so much people
Xirana Oximoxi: but they are experimenting, improving, exploring a new possibilities
Storm Nordwind: Sounds exciting. I like it!
Xirana Oximoxi: you must look for a subject that can interest you
Catrinamonblue Resident: nods
Xirana Oximoxi: https://www.coursera.org/courses
Storm Nordwind: Maybe. But I think I am more excited by the process and its possibilities and its development.
Xirana Oximoxi: yes...I think a lot of teachers prearing it are also excited about the process...
--BELL--
Xirana Oximoxi: for exemple this group of teachers of an University of Edimburg... ... Those goals might include: gaining new perspectives on e-learning; experiencing a MOOC; networking with some of the fascinating people from all over the world who are signed up; experimenting with digital and visual ways of representing academic knowledge; and exploring the connections between education, learning and digital cultures.
Xirana Oximoxi: https://class.coursera.org/edc-001/wiki/view?page=welcomeedc
Xirana Oximoxi: I am really curious about it too:)
Storm Nordwind: Thank you for all of this Xirana. I shall look into it :)
Xirana Oximoxi: you're welcome:)
Catrinamonblue Resident: looks very interesting :)
Xirana Oximoxi: it is:) ...you must find a subject that interests you...and now all have the possibility to participate...not sure if it will be free forever...but must take profit now :)
Storm Nordwind: Yes!
Xirana Oximoxi: but I see that in few days...we can also find courses i Spanish, French, Chinese...
Xirana Oximoxi: so..it's something that is increasing
Xirana Oximoxi: a mode maybe :)
Xirana Oximoxi: I will go now...have a nice day Cat and Storm! See you soon! :-)
Storm Nordwind: You too. Bye for now!
Xirana Oximoxi: bye bye:)
Catrinamonblue Resident: bye :0
Catrinamonblue Resident: :)
Catrinamonblue Resident: going to go too :) have work to do :)
Storm Nordwind: Good to see you!
Catrinamonblue Resident: and you too :)