...Tips on taking MOOCs...

There are no strict rules when it comes to online, distance learning education. You can take a course literally anywhere, from your sofa to the bus. What is astonishing is that very many of these courses are completely free!

I started taking online courses in 2005. I found the whole process fascinating because MOOCs are very flexible - you read when you are ready and when you feel like it. Wanna study in the middle of the night? Nobody is going to stop you.

MOOC courses consist of articles, podcasts, videos, images... I frequently do the coursework when going out, listening to the podcasts on the go. But I love the videos too! And the virtual lectures! I find articles a bit boring, but I was never good at learning something from text.

If you are an experienced MOOCer then you can stop reading now. I am saying nothing new after all. 

But if you are new to MOOCs I introduce three major sources of free online education: UDACITY, COURSERA, FUTURLEARN. I have used these and I recommend them.

For other course providers click here. 

Now, you need to decide whether you want to do a course in order to learn something new without getting any qualifications, or in order to get some sort of qualification after the end of the course.

I usually go for courses that provide qualifications; courses that I can even mention on my CV. 

I do take courses that provide no qualifications, but only because I like the topic. I also mention them on my CV; after all, I have done the work! I am proud of completing them! 

But generally speaking, a course that provides some certifications is better than a course that provides nothing in the end. Also, check who is the course provider: reputable universities are the best providers out there!

Do you want to know - at a glance - if your selected courses / topics provide qualifications? Do you want to know what courses are offered and when?

Then visit this website. Even though I would recommend you to double check the information.

Don't go mad and start taking many courses at the same time. If you study them properly, they are time consuming and ...even hard work!

Generally speaking, I advise you to take one course at a time. Complete one course, then start another. You will be more motivated if you do so.

Also, take courses that interest you. There is no point taking courses that you won't enjoy, otherwise you risk abandoning the course from week one (dropouts are very common in MOOCs).

Before you take any courses check your availability. Can you afford the time to do this course? MOOCs come with instructions. For instance, the tutors recommend you to study for a specific number of hours a week. 

In many courses there is a quiz at the end of every week. You can take this in order to test your progress. Courses that provide qualifications may be accompanied by more 'academic-style' exams. Do you want to take these exams or not? You don't want to take an exam if you hate exams! Does the course charge you for taking an exam, or for a statement of accomplishment? And if yes, can you afford the cost? 

Most importantly, make the most of online forums! Discuss the course material. Comment on other people's comments! Participate in discussions! Meet up with your co-students! Be there. This is your online 'university' space, you are studying something after all.

I am not an academic but there is something telling me that MOOCs have great potential. With university fees sky-rocketed, MOOCs could be THE FUTURE in university education. 

So, are you taking any MOOCs? Tempted?

...MOOCS...

MOOC is a bit of a funny name. The web definition is:

A massive open online course is an online course aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the web...

Here is a picture of what a MOOC is (via wikipedia). 

Effectively, MOOCs are online 'learning for life'. I follow some of these MOOCs on Futurelearn and Udacity.  Are you taking any?? Obviously, there, you will find me with my real name, not with my pen name, but if you are interested in following me I can give you more info via private communication.

I have already completed 'Muslims in Britain' via Futurelearn. I am going to review it soon. Come back to read the review. 

I am also planning to post about 'how to select the right MOOC for you' (coming very soon).

...A note on lookism...

This incident took place in London underground a couple of days ago. Think morning rush hour. The train was packed. People were nervously getting on and off the train wishing they could fly to get to work faster.

I was sitting next to one of the main carriage doors, when a family got onto the train. Mum, dad, a couple of children. You say, an ordinary family?

Dad was about 40, mum in her late 30s. The one  'child' was a young lad, about 14 years old. The other, a little girl, about 5 years old.

The little girl had severe facial deformities. Not because of an accident, but because she was born with a medical condition. 

Now, I am not an expert in genetics and medicine, but I often read about syndromes. I know the name of the syndrome, I have seen relevant pictures of patients before, and maybe a couple of relevant videos. I could tell that the girl I saw has Treacher Collins Syndrome. Yes, the facial characteristics of the girl were spot-on the typical signs of TCS. Downward slanting eyes, malformed ears, etc. But does it matter?

I am going to stand on what happened on the train.

Someone offered the mother a seat - and the girl sat on the lap of her mother. That could be the happy end of the story. 

But it wasn't. Simply because I noticed how the fellow train passengers looked at the little girl. 

Now, trust me. I didn't stare. I only caught a glimpse of the girl. And that was it. Normality is the key. Normality, respect, a welcoming approach. But others did stare...persistently! Something that personally annoyed me. What are you looking at?

How that mother might have felt? Now, if I were the mother of that girl I would be angry with so many of the passengers, just because of the way they were staring at my daughter! But she acted normally (I approved of her behaviour and I really admire(d) her, she did the right thing). 

Two ladies were standing next to me. The one signalled and gestured to the other about the looks of the little girl, in an attempt to silently describe how the girl looked like. Gestures about the girl's mouth, etc...

The girl was just a little girl, a little bit different maybe, but people around her were staring at her like she was a freak of nature. They should be ashamed of themselves! And those two women (above), who turned their head deliberately so that they look at the girl and explore her facial features better, signalling to each other about it, these women were so inhumane!

Why are we judged about the way we look? No matter how we look like, we are always judged because of our looks...

For issues such as:

Oh, she is fat...
Oh, she is too short...
Oh, he has a funny nose...

Oh... he is very feminine...
Oh, he has manboobs...
Oh, she has facial hair...
Oh, she has malformed ears...
Oh, she is 'no-oil-painting'...

Oh, he has no legs...
Oh, she has one arm...
Oh, his face is deformed...
Oh, her skin is pale...

Oh, his hair is ginger...
Oh, she is black...

People are mean, no matter what. People will ALWAYS judge you, they will always find something negative to say.

I am angry with people. I know that there is research out there that says that people are naturally attracted to beauty and proportionate characteristics but sorry! I have to disagree with lookism. Beauty is really beyond looks. It is something much deeper than skin and bones. 

Then I thought of Lizzy. Lizzy who has changed my view of seeing the world (you should really watch her inspirational video). I get emotional every single time I watch it. 

Lizzy. Lizzy! And the girl on the train. And these statistics that are so alarming!

How can we all learn to see and think with the heart instead of using the brain (and our sexual hormones)? How can we all learn to appreciate people for their identity and personality, and not for their looks and psychical characteristics? How can we all learn to value ourselves (and the others) for who we are, and not for how we look like?

If homo homini lupus (and many people out there have a wolf in their heart) luckily there is veritas, bonitas, pulchritudo, sanctitas... and they all come from within. 

We need more cultural education. This is the key to the solution of the problem. Discrimination must end.