Applied Abstractions

Hi all, I hope you have enjoyed my rantings, ravings, and job postings, but I will be taking a break from the blog for about a month. I am traveling and have a few projects in the works that need my attention. I'm hoping to be back late July/early August. If you'd like to get in touch with me, feel free to use the links on the right. Best, Robert

At the moment I am actively taking the following MOOCs: Coursera: Internet History, Technology, and Security - The course is very heavy with videos from the instructor, Dr. Charles Severance, containing interviews, lectures, and the occasional office hours. The quizzes are multiple choice, and are fairly easy once you watch the videos. There is a peer graded assignment that was just posted for extra credit. I was thinking of joining their Signature Track , but thought against it, since this isn't a core part of my career.  Udacity: How to Build a Startup - Fairly straightforward entrepreneur course (as 'straight' as it could possibly be) that seems to rely on products the instructor is familiar with, namely his own. While he says they're not necessary the two texts he recommends are The Startup Owner's Manual: The Step-By-Step Guide for Building a Great Company (his own), and Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers

Teaching online courses I've encountered many student issues dealing with technology. From using the right browser, to understanding the LMS. The most persistent problem though was not with specific programs or websites, but basic connectivity. A good number of my students were stealing wifi to take their online  course! Those that weren't either had basic internet, or were going to places where it was free. So I wasn't surprised when reading this article from Mercury News about high-school students taking online courses, that their biggest issue was students having internet access at home. From the article: It turned out some of the low-income teens didn't have computers and high-speed Internet connections at home that the online course required. Many needed personal attention to make it through. The final results aren't in yet, but the experiment exposed some challenges to the promise of a low-cost online education. And it showed there is still a divide betwe

I was contacted by a recruiter looking to fill a Manager of Online Instructional Course Development position in the New York area. You should have at least a familiarity with technology enough to know online communities and resources. Math content knowledge is the most important of the position. This position is a kind of project manager and lead to implement the program and build the online library. If you want more details, feel free to contact me at robert.weston.82@gmail.com .

Saw this ad and thought you all might be interested: Math Academic Content Expert (Union Square) . I know as much as the ad says, and am not affiliated with the poster. Good luck! via craigslist new york | all jobs search "math" at June 09, 2013 at 09:34AM