Question

Any Mechanical MOOCers out there?

Answer 1

Several have stopped by, posting questions.

Answer 2

Is there a question?

Answer 3

The MechMooc encourages people to get to know one another on OS. So the question actually is as stated and relates to the MIT class through MM. Hehe.

Answer 4

Shows how well I read the instructions. I started the Mech MOOC today as a means of brushing up on my python. So I suppose that would be an "affirmative" to his question.

Answer 5

I am definitely a MOOCer and excited to be here.

Answer 6

yup yup

Answer 7

At least temporarily. I became 'gainfully employed' today with an 11 month contract with FedEx. Looks like I'll have 2.5 hours drive time every work day for the next 11 months. Not sure that will leave me the time I need for this. :(

Answer 8

A little bit on the lunch hour, some after work, you'll find the time for it. :)

Answer 9

The great thing is this: The code sites, MIT, and OS will always be here. So you can take it in bits and pieces when you have time. And 'gainfully employed' means you could afford a Python book to read at lunch. Some of the open source books on python have print versions that are very cheap. If you have a laptop, you could even do the class on the go!

Answer 10

Moocer checking in.

Answer 11

hi yes... another Mech MOOC'er in Australia

Answer 12

Reporting in from Sydney, Australia. So far I think this course is fantastic, what do you guys think?

Answer 13

@Dex Yes this course is a really great initiative. MOOC'er from Holland here.

Answer 14

Great to see you all online. Want to stress what @e.mccormick said above. The resources are persistently available, so don't stress about keeping up, etc. @hermit, gainful employment is a good thing, and the sequence for the course is available here http://mechanicalmooc.wordpress.com/sequence/ and we'll likely start another sequence in a month or two, so hang with us as you can, work at your own pace, or catch us on the next go round.

Answer 15

Waving from Canada to you all - I've been really looking forward to this course!

Answer 16

Hello from South Africa. Free Software and Free Knowledge advocate, trying out the course both to learn Python and to learn how a MOOC based on restricted-use open content might work without a lecturer.

Answer 17

I think the course works largely on your level of motivation, as while you get the emails and given some direction, the content being laid out over multiple sites means you have to keep tabs on each site.
In one of the emails Mooc suggested we set up a dedicated learning environment, such as download a browser you don't normally use and set it up with all the pages you need for the course, and only use it for academia, making keeping track of course materials much easier.
Without a lecturer chasing us about assignments and such, I am curious about the homework as far as making sure we progress, but I suppose, being based on our own motivation, and the social aspect introduced here on OpenStudy, we have to push ourselves, and to a point each other, to keep up with the course.
I could be entirely wrong, this is just my speculation.

Answer 18

A Mech MOOC'er from Nebraska, USA here.

Answer 19

Yes, I'm MOOCing from the UK

Answer 20

@Dex Will also introduce small group e-mail lists for enhanced peer support in the next few days.

Answer 21

Personally I would like to see an IRC addition to the OS/MOOC process.

Answer 22

@eSpeX OpenStudy supports chat. Look at the tabs at the bottom of the screen.

Answer 23

@MOOC-E, those little chat windows are inferior to IRC and do not offer near the experience, imo.

Answer 24

@eSpeX if you have a service you think would work, let us know!

Answer 25

@MOOC-E , it would take the organizers pushing it to make any kind of service useful. However there are several networks out there that could be used. Freenode is a stable server from efnet that is used by a great deal of groups. The thing that I believe sets the IRC apart from these little windows, aside from the generally visible hierarchy, is that you can see who is there as soon as you enter the chat. These chat windows offer you a place to "talk" but are often times no better than the threaded message board they emulate.
It would also be nice to see a greater presence, such as ops, in the chat that can handle spammers and people that are a general nuisance to the learning environment. I'm not sure these windows have that capability.

Answer 26

+1 from the UK.

Answer 27

MOOCer in Chicago, IL!

Answer 28

MMOOCer from Germany

Answer 29

+1 from France and +1 for Freenode IRC idea for the next Mechanical MOOC

Answer 30

MMOOCer here from Texas, USA!