Algorithms & Open Courses: A Match for Job Seekers

#sxsw #AMatch4Job

Since 2011, over 5 million people around the world have signed up for Coursera.com - a leading Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) provider. One-third of the users are from the U.S., 30% are from Europe, and the rest are spread across the “developing world,” according to Coursera co-founder Daphne Koller (2013). Open Education Resources (OER) & MOOCs have lowered the barrier to entry into a career path by making Harvard quality content free and in HD video. While OER & MOOCs represent a significant step forward in the Digital Education Revolution, current platforms lack the instruction-related functionalities proven by research to be fundamental when creating learning environments, such as real-world, collaborative projects. Students taking MOOCs have reported feelings of isolation and being disconnected from other students. This session will present examples of how algorithms are being leveraged to provide a more personalized, social, and meaningful experience for students taking MOOCs.

Presenters

Michael Mayrath PhD

Managing Dir

Knod.net - Global Learning Network

Dr. Michael Mayrath received a Ph.D. in educational psychology and a Masters in program evaluation from the University of Texas at Austin. He then worked as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Harvard University where he helped lead the design, development, and testing of simulation-based assessments of scientific inquiry skills. He is the lead editor of “Technology-Based Assessments for 21st Century Skills” published by Information Age Publishing. The book aggregates the latest research in using games and simulations as tools for assessment of higher order thinking.
Dr. Mayrath is a Co-Founder of Magellan Education LLC and the Founder of Mayrath Enterprises, Inc. He has consulted for the world’s leading institutions, including the U.S. Air Force, Harvard, and Cisco. He is a founding member of the numerous Advisory Boards, including SXSWedu, and he served as an E-Textbook Reviewer in 2009-2010 for the Texas Education Agency’s adoption of instructional technology.