Lightning Talk
James Thornburgh
Fresno State
Biography
James Thornburgh is a professor of Computer Aided Design (CAD) at Merced College, where he prepares students for product engineering careers. His research focus is Open Educational Resources, and the link between non-formal learning and employment.
Abstract
Open educational resources and the growth of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have expanded the ability for people to learn about any topic for little or no cost. Along with the growth of MOOCs in the last several years, there has been increasing criticism of them. Some of the major criticisms have been that there is no accountability, a lack of interaction between students and “teachers,” a lack of personal attention, and a lack of structure.
By integrating hackerspaces into their self-directed learning, people can utilize the freedom of MOOCs, while at the same time having access to experts, and the wisdom of a local crowd. Hackerspaces/Makerspaces typically include an educational component, and an attitude of sharing between members. The combination of a MOOC or other open educational resource, and a local hackerspace will give students the ability to apply what they are learning. It also allows them to work with others who may be going through the same resource, already have some experience, or are professionals in the field. This local contact also gives rise to several credentialing options.