Frontier Capstone Critical Theory & Media Literacy

MOOC or TED Talk Evaluation

Due July 30th

In your groups, you are creating a shared base of knowledge that each member can build upon for
their own final paper, as well as later projects. New disruptive techniques and technologies are
changing the way people learn informally and how students learn formally. In both areas of learning,
society now has access to the best and brightest minds as their Instructors, but at the same time the
fast-scaling of these courses and widespread viewing of these lectures threaten the unique connections
that are made during learning. As a society we must learn to leverage these new techniques while
balancing the disruptive technologies with the institutional memory and practice of higher education.
As a group exploring your topic, you must be aware of the thought leaders in your discipline, and
how both formal student learning and informal popular learning takes place in your area. As an
individual, you may be able to use some of the content for your written paper at the end of this
semester. As a group choose one of the two options below. As a group, write a 250-500 word essay.
A) Locate, research and review a free online course module, or a MOOC, on your groups overall
topic or research question. Take notes on both the content of the material (learning objectives, etc.)
and the manner in which the material is presented. What are the stated outcomes? What are the
sources for content? List and describe 35 main points that a student should learn and retain. What
activities do students participate in? How is the instruction actually facilitated?
http://ed.ted.com/
http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm
https://www.udacity.com/
https://www.coursera.org/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/itunes-u/id40000000?mt=10
https://www.edx.org/

Gain access to, or register for, the course. (You do not need to complete the course, assignments or
take any of the assessments) Take an in-depth tour of all of the modules, exercises, assignments,
lectures, videos, discussion boards and other components. Using the Rubric for Assessment
sheet as a guide for evaluation. Take structured notes following each of the six (6) categories from the
sheet.
Create a written Evaluation of the module or MOOC addressing each of the categories in two or
three sentences each. Assign a numerical value from 4 (highest) to 1 (lowest) in each category.
Give your justifications and suggestions for each:

Content & Experience

Guidance & Support
Reflection & Demonstration
Communication & Collaboration
Balance Disruptive Tech. with Institutionality
Logistics of Course, Duration of Study

Create a written Assessment of the module or MOOC addressing each of the categories above,
and give concrete, specific details regarding the following:

o
o
o
o
o

The stated Learning Outcomes and Knowledge Goals

Discipline-specific examples and case-studies for connection(s)
Other specific Supporting Ideas, Related Points, Statistics or Anecdotes
Description of Visuals, A/V content and other examples
New information worth sharing or acting upon?

OR
B) Locate, research and watch a TED Talk (or well-respected alternative) featuring a researcher in
your field. Take notes on both the content of the speech and the style of presentation. What was the
Big Idea or Central Thesis to the speech? List and describe the 35 main points that support this
idea. What visuals or images were used to reinforce these points and ideas?
http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_green_what_the_social_progress_index_can_reveal_about_your_country
http://www.ted.com/talks/rachel_botsman_the_case_for_collaborative_consumption
http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story
http://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_mwenda_takes_a_new_look_at_africa
http://www.ted.com/talks/juliana_rotich_meet_brck_internet_access_built_for_africa
http://www.ted.com/talks/becky_blanton_the_year_i_was_homeless
http://www.ted.com/talks/john_hunter_on_the_world_peace_game
http://www.ted.com/talks/glenn_greenwald_why_privacy_matters

Re-Watch the video using the Rubric for Assessment sheet as a guide for evaluation. Take
structured notes following each of the six (6) categories from the sheet, and chart the Beginning
MiddleEnd of each story used to support the Big Idea or Central Thesis.
Create a written Evaluation of the speech addressing each of categories in two or three sentences
each. Assign a numerical value from 4 (highest) to 1 (lowest) in each category. Give your
justifications and suggestions for each:

Point of View Audience & Purpose/Relevance

Voice Conversational Style & Consistency
Images & Visuals
Grammar & Syntax
Language Economy, Pacing & Rhythm
Duration of Presentation

Create a written Assessment of the speech addressing each of the categories above, and give
concrete, specific details regarding the following:

o
o
o
o
o

Stories or Narrative Thread for connection(s)

The Thesis Statement or Big Idea
Supporting Ideas, Main Points, Statistics or Anecdotes
Description of Visuals and other examples
New information worth sharing or acting upon?

Working as an individual, keep your notes on your worksheet. Follow the instructions of your groups
coordinator. Provide your written input to your groups writer.
Working as a group, write your observations and assessments as a single Evaluation Essay (250-500
words). Submit* a single Document for your group to Blackboard. Bring a copy to the class meeting
on March 6th.

*You may Copy-and-Paste your essay into the Submission field,

or upload an MS Word document of Adobe PDF document, or both.

Due July 30th

TED Talk
Evaluation
Point of View
Audience & Purpose
Relevance

Rating
(4 1)

Justification

Suggestions

Rating
(4 1)

Justification

Suggestions

Voice
Conversational Style &
Consistency
Images & Visuals

Grammar & Syntax

Language Economy,
Pacing & Rhythm
Duration of
Presentation

OR

Module or MOOC
Evaluation
Content & Experience

Guidance & Support

Reflection &
Demonstration
Communication &
Collaboration
Balance Disruptive
Tech. w/ Institutionality
Logistics of Course,
Duration of Study