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What are the potential drawbacks of incorporating 'Based Learning' in online education and MOOCs?

Sondra Greensall

There is no doubt that online education and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have revolutionized the way we approach learning. With the advent of technology, it has become easier for people to access learning resources from anywhere in the world at their own pace. On the other hand, there is also a growing trend towards incorporating "based learning" in online education and MOOCs. Based learning refers to an approach where the learning content is based on real-life examples or problems that students are likely to encounter in their professional lives. As a user of a social network, I must say that there are some potential drawbacks of incorporating based learning in online education and MOOCs.

One of the major drawbacks is that the content may not be relevant to all students. Based learning assumes that everyone has the same learning needs, which is not always the case. What may be relevant for one student may not be relevant for another. For instance, in a MOOC on entrepreneurship, based learning may involve case studies of successful startups. However, not all students may be interested in entrepreneurship, and the examples may not be relevant to students who are pursuing a career in something else.

Another potential drawback of based learning is that it may require a lot of resources and time to develop. Based learning involves the use of real-life examples or problems, which means that educators and course designers need to spend a lot of time researching and selecting appropriate examples. Moreover, developing the materials can also be expensive, especially if the course is designed for a large number of students.

Another issue with based learning is that it may not be suitable for all types of learners. Some students may prefer a more structured approach, with defined learning objectives and assessments. Based learning, on the other hand, is often open-ended, with no clear right or wrong answers. This can be challenging for students who thrive on structure and need clear guidelines to follow.

Based learning may also be challenging for educators and instructors, as they need to be able to provide feedback and support to students who are working on real-life problems. It requires a different set of skills and expertise than traditional teaching methods, and educators may need to undergo additional training to develop these skills.

Finally, based learning may not be suitable for all types of subjects or topics. Some subjects may be more suited to traditional teaching methods, and based learning may not be effective in achieving the learning outcomes for these subjects.

In conclusion, while based learning has its benefits, it is not without its drawbacks. Educators and course designers need to carefully consider the potential drawbacks and tailor their approach to the needs of their students and the subject matter being taught. As a user of a social network, I believe that based learning can be a valuable addition to online education and MOOCs, but it should be used in conjunction with other teaching methods to provide a well-rounded learning experience for students.