Four massive open online courses (MOOCs) were opened by the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) for the month of September through its online learning platform specifically for MOOCs, called the Massive Open Distance e-Learning (MODeL).
According to a recent report, the four courses were Techniques with Spreadsheets and Workflow-based Tools, Supervised and Unsupervised Learning, Supervised Learning: Regression Methodologies, and Data Warehousing and Dimensional Modelling.
The course, Techniques with Spreadsheets and Workflow-based Tools, is about the use of spreadsheets for Business Analytics.
Predictive analytics and basic concepts and methods of data processing are what the Supervised and Unsupervised Learning course is about.
Supervised Learning: Regression Methodologies introduces Predictive Analytics to students while Data Warehousing and Dimensional Modelling, as the course name implies focuses on data warehousing and dimensional modelling.
The Business Analytics program opened fundamentals and introduction courses in the previous months that are prerequisite for these courses.
In addition to these four MOOCs, another set of three courses were opened for the month of September under the Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) Teacher Accreditation Program, they were Strategic Planning in ODeL, Learner Support in ODeL, and Content Development for ODeL.
For the next months, MODeL is expected to open more MOOCs. Details for all their programs and courses are available here.
A Master class on Immersive Technologies for Sustainability Science Teaching and Learning: The Potentials of Virtual Tours as Interpretive Experience was held possible by the University’s Faculty of Information and Communications (FICS) in a different learning opportunity.
According to a recent report, this was made possible in collaboration with the UPOU Alumni Foundation, Inc. and the UP Los Banos College of Development Communication.
The lecture was a part of a quarterly initiative by FICS, called Masterclass: A Lecture Series from Thought Leaders, which aims to facilitate knowledge transfer by stimulating and encouraging insightful discussions between experts and non-experts in a certain field.
An intergenerational component was incorporated in this master class providing an avenue for intergenerational knowledge sharing.
This is in line also with the University’s initiative to be an age-friendly institution as an impetus for change.
The programs, including academic activities, and research and teaching, should be viewed with an age-friendly lens as thought leaders do not come from the older generations only.
Representatives from Gen X and the baby boomer and millennial generations drew from their own experiences.
Some of the topics discussed focused on the potentials of immersive technology for teaching and learning, and how emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR) shows promise in terms of exploring remote areas.
An environmental science PhD student shared on the potential of VR in his particular field of study, verbalising on his belief that different disciplines are interconnected.
Majority of the participants were Development Communication graduate students. Thus, emphasis was given on the immersive technology’s potential for innovative and effective storytelling.
Discussions involved the emerging technology’s implications in sustainability science, as well as its impact on community interaction.
