Activity 4 - Brainstorming on transparency

Discussion on transparencies in forums - Part I

I arrived late to  discussion on transparency in the forums, but I would like still contribute.

While I was reading the participation of my colleagues, I made the following survey of the key ideas:

Defenders

Sandra Brás (25.01.10 // 04:45 PM ) - "...it would be useful to see the discussions that our colleagues of the Multimedia master usually have. (...) So the University should give us that choice. Not only for a matter of transparency in all our courses but also for the possibility of knowing other people's perspective in some issue that is important to us."
Joaquim Lopes (25.01.10 // 06:11 PM) - "However, the possibility of just reading the forum posts could be an interesting idea."
Luís Rodrigues (25.01.10 // 09:38 PM ) - "First, I agree with the creation of mechanisms to see what is being produced in enclosed spaces. But how? Providing each group, what it considers good and interest, according to the criterion of the group. (...) Transparency, but with caution."
Opponents
Maria de Lurdes Martins (25.01.10 // 07:55 PM ) - "I think that forums should be available to the class that is attached to the course, not to all members oj UaB. (...) it’s a little stressing to follow so many things and I’m not capable to focus on a particular task or information."
Paulo Simões (25.01.10 // 09:00 PM) - "However I believe that to defend the group, there should be a dedicated space, accessed only by the students in the course."
Mónica Velosa (27.01.10 // 03:36 PM ) - "I agree more with Paul when he says that he believes that to defend the group, there should be a dedicated space, accessed only by the students in the course.
For those wishing to share their ideas beyond the group can always do it on your blog, as we already done throughout this course."
Teresa Rafael (27.01.10 // 05:53 PM ) - "So...before the implementation of transparency in education it is necessary to know  if the "people" and the system are   prepared/ mature for that.  Talking it political: “anarchism" as not proved yet that it work! I love my “privacy and individualism” as much as I dislike to be an intruder! "Transparency, but with caution"."

There are therefore two colleagues, Sandra and Joaquim, that sugest  the possibility of reading the forums  as an interesting idea, even if the reader  could not participate. 

Luís  considers appropriate since provided with  criteria.

Then we have four colleagues who argue that there must be  a place holder only for the group. Two, Paul and Monica, defende the  there is a need to defend the group. Maria de Lurdes think that way because it will be more comfortable writing to a group that is known and, finally, Teresa feels that, before transparency, it will be important  whether the participants are prepared for it.

My opinion

As for me, considering that transparency in online education is the ability to share with others what we do and get their feedback, with forums, this possibility will always be limited, since only students and professors have access to that produced in those forums. However, in many cases, we publish our blogs in the outcome of our participation here, why not allow, such as Sandra and Joaquim suggest, that others follow the process, reading. Allow them to participate would be complicated to manage, particularly for the teacher who will then evaluate. It Would be like Joaquim says in its share of 25.01.10, 06:11 PM, a nightmare.  The end result is important, but observing the process through which to build the end product of learning allows us to see how others do. And that is a guarantee of success. Therefore, I agree with Sandra and Joaquim.

Publishing statistics and data - Part II

What data and statistics would it be interesting to see based on the information UA has about their students?

For this question, as an answer, I do another: publishing it, some personal data , can improve student learning?

In my view, make this data public would only have the aim to build trust in the institution. So, to students might be important, however, should be done only if the students allowed it, even if the data were more or less anonymous, as the professor suggests.

 PORTUGUESE VERSION / VERSÃO PORTUGUESA

Discussão sobre a transparência nos  fóruns - Parte I

 Cheguei tarde à discussão sobre a transparência nos fóruns, mas gostaria, ainda assim, de contribuir.
Estive a ler as participações dos meus colegas e fiz o seguinte levantamento:

Defensores

Sandra Brás (25.01.10 // 04:45 PM ) - "...it would be useful to see the discussions that our colleagues of the Multimedia master usually have. (...) So the University should give us that choice. Not only for a matter of transparency in all our courses but also for the possibility of knowing other people's perspective in some issue that is important to us."
Joaquim Lopes (25.01.10 // 06:11 PM) - "However, the possibility of just reading the forum posts could be an interesting idea."
Luís Rodrigues (25.01.10 // 09:38 PM ) - "First, I agree with the creation of mechanisms to see what is being produced in enclosed spaces. But how? Providing each group, what it considers good and interest, according to the criterion of the group. (...) Transparency, but with caution."
Opositores
Maria de Lurdes Martins (25.01.10 // 07:55 PM ) - "I think that forums should be available to the class that is attached to the course, not to all members oj UaB. (...) it’s a little stressing to follow so many things and I’m not capable to focus on a particular task or information."
Paulo Simões (25.01.10 // 09:00 PM) - "However I believe that to defend the group, there should be a dedicated space, accessed only by the students in the course."
Mónica Velosa (27.01.10 // 03:36 PM ) - "I agree more with Paul when he says that he believes that to defend the group, there should be a dedicated space, accessed only by the students in the course.
For those wishing to share their ideas beyond the group can always do it on your blog, as we already done throughout this course."
Teresa Rafael (27.01.10 // 05:53 PM ) - "So...before the implementation of transparency in education it is necessary to know  if the "people" and the system are   prepared/ mature for that.  Talking it political: “anarchism" as not proved yet that it work! I love my “privacy and individualism” as much as I dislike to be an intruder! "Transparency, but with caution"."

Portanto, há dois colegas, a Sandra e o Joaquim que consideram a possibilidade de ler a participação nos fóruns de um curso interessante, ainda que o leitor não possa participar na discussão. O Luís considera pertinente desde que existam critérios definidos.

Cheguei tarde à discussão sobre a transparência nos fóruns, mas gostaria, ainda assim, de contribuir.
Estive a ler as participações dos meus colegas e fiz o seguinte levantamento:
Portanto, há dois colegas, a Sandra e o Joaquim que consideram a possibilidade de ler a participação nos fóruns de um curso interessante, ainda que o leitor não possa participar na discussão. O Luís considera pertinente desde que existam critérios definidos.

Temos, depois, quatro colegas que defendem a existência de um espaço reservado só para o grupo. Dois, o Paulo e a Mónica, fazem-no porque há a necessidade de defender o grupo, uma, a Maria de Lurdes, pensa dessa forma porque será mais confortável escrever para um grupo que se conhece e, por fim, a Teresa que considera importante, antes da transparência , saber se os participantes estão preparados para isso.
A minha opinião

Quanto a mim, considerando que a transparência na educação online é a possibilidade de partilhar com os outros aquilo que fazemos e ter o seu feedback, em fóruns, essa possibilidade será sempre limitada, uma vez que só têm acesso ao que produzimos em fóruns aqueles que fazem parte do curso. No entanto, se em muitos dos casos, nós publicamos nos nossos blogs o resultado das nossas participações aqui, porque não permitir, tal como a Sandra e o Joaquim sugerem, que outros acompanhem o processo, lendo. Permitir que participem seria complicado de gerir, particularmente, para o professor que depois irá avaliar. Seria, como o Joaquim diz, na sua participação de 25.01.10, 06:11 PM, um pesadelo.

O resultado final é importante, mas observar o processo através do qual se constrói o produto final de uma aprendizagem permite-nos ver como os outros fazem. E essa é uma garantia de sucesso. Portanto, estou de acordo com a Sandra e o Joaquim.

A publicação de estatísticas e dados - Parte II

What data and statistics would it be interesting to see based on the information UA has about their students?
 
Para esta pergunta, como resposta,  eu faço outra: de que forma a publicação desses dados, alguns pessoais, poderá melhorar a aprendizagem dos alunos?

No meu ponto de vista, tornar esses dados públicos teria apenas o objectivo de credibilizar a instituição. Assim, para os próprios estudantes isso poderia ser importante, no entanto, só se deveria fazer se os alunos permitissem, mesmo que os dados fossem mais ou menos anónimos, tal como o professor sugere.  

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*Edited on 30.01.10 to add a review about the publication of statistics and data.