On Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 4:52 PM, Terence Love <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Could you write a little about the practical issues you found in creating
> and managing it. I'm thinking of process, difficulties, tricks, traps,
> things to know, pointers to resources, opportunities you see for future
> improvements?
>
no. I couldn't write a little: I would have to write a lot.
I think it would be very useful to have such a document. Alas, I have to
put it on the list of Very Important Things I ought to do. it is a big
list.
Let me simply say that it took far longer and a lot more work than anyone
expected. Udacity said it was the hardest course they had ever done (and
the most expensive), even though it was also the shortest. The main reason
was that our methods, teaching styles, and special assignments and
submissibles did not fit the model that any existing MOOCs are used to
doing. Udacity agreed with our plans, but had great trouble implementing
them. The result is not satisfactory. Well, it is perhaps OK, but none of
us are happy with the kinds of interactions the Forum software Udacity
purchased can provide (they didn't have the resources to write the Forum
software themselves.)
Scott Klemmer who did a design course for Coursera had other, but similar
difficulties with Coursera. We, at least, had professional videographers at
Udacity. Scott filmed himself in his basement. Scott has the best model
for peer evaluation of design projects around, but he could not get
Coursera to adopt it (nor could Kristian and I get Udacity to adopt it):
this was not a philosophical disagreement. In both cases, the resources
required to implement it was beyond what either startup company had
available (and both these startups are extremely well-funded.
Life in the real world of product is difficult. (which allows me to provide
a plug: See chapters 6 and 7 of the revised DOET, starting with the section
entitled: "What I just told you? It doesn't really work that way.")
Don Norman
Nielsen Norman Group, IDEO Fellow
[log in to unmask] www.jnd.org http://www.core77.com/blog/columns/
Book: "Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded<http://amzn.to/ZOMyys>"
(DOET2).
Course: Udacity On-Line course based on
DOET2<https://www.udacity.com/course/design101>
(free).
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