The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Bex on October 25, 2016, 01:25:50 am

Title: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: Bex on October 25, 2016, 01:25:50 am
Just signed up for this on coursera. Starts 31/10
Might not be much in the way of new information for the experienced smallholder but could be of interest to those still aspiring or stuck in the planning phase (like me at the moment).
Modules on both domestic and farm animals apparently.
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: devonlady on October 25, 2016, 09:20:23 am
Is this an on-line course?
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on October 25, 2016, 03:21:00 pm
sounds pretty interesting...... Would it be poss to post a link? That is if it is an online thing? :thinking:
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: Fleecewife on October 25, 2016, 04:28:16 pm
Several of us here on TAS did the Coursera chicken behaviour and welfare course a wee while back.  It was definitely worth doing and was recorded in Edinburgh (the transcripts had to work hard with some of the local accents  :D )  << modified - this one is from Edinburgh too >>


These online courses are free and remain available for ever, or until computers go out of existence, so it's worth signing up even if you don't have time to do the studying quite yet.  They are not usually too onerous - just a few hours a week for however many weeks the courses run for - usually somewhere between 2 and 8.  << modified - this one is 7 weeks >>


WBF  www.coursera.org/learn/animal-welfare (http://www.coursera.org/learn/animal-welfare)
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: Fleecewife on October 25, 2016, 06:24:20 pm
I've joined the course and it looks really good.  Plenty of depth and covering all sorts of animals, cats and dogs, farm animals, zoo animals and wild animals.  It looks like something we should all at least dip into.


You don't have to wait until 31st but can start right away  :thumbsup:


Thanks Bex  :)


There is a little black and tan Jack Russel type dog in some of the videos which is the image of mine - and theirs steals sheep mix too  :yum:
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: Bex on October 31, 2016, 07:56:06 pm
Sorry folks, should have posted a link. I wrote this and then promptly forgot about it completely!

Just had the reminder email that it starts today.

I did the chicken course a while back and really enjoyed it so fingers crossed for this one.

Anyone started it yet?

Bex
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: Black Sheep on October 31, 2016, 08:44:46 pm
Yep, listened to some of the videos last night. Just background info so far so looking forward to the more specific sessions that follow.

Thanks for sharing with us :-)
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: Fleecewife on November 01, 2016, 01:06:06 am
I did the first week last week and really enjoyed it.  Looking forward to further weeks.   I started early because I am doing three other moocs at the same time, so a bit overloaded.
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: CarolineJ on November 01, 2016, 06:34:42 am
Thank you, signed up  :thumbsup:

For the horse-owners amongst us, they've done an equine nutrition one which usually runs in January which is very, very good.
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: YorkshireLass on November 01, 2016, 04:19:51 pm
Oooh I'm on that! Under my real name  :innocent: :innocent:
Interesting videos, forums and discussions very quiet so far.




Oh hang on, mine is on week 3 or 4 I think so I guess I'm in a different cohort?
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: Fleecewife on November 01, 2016, 04:37:34 pm
I haven't found out how to join a discussion yet  :dunce:
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: YorkshireLass on November 01, 2016, 05:33:22 pm
On the course's home page, the grey bar on the left that has week 1, week 2, etc... further down there is a link to discussion forums. You can also get at them a couple of other ways via each week's video page :)
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: YorkshireLass on November 01, 2016, 05:35:10 pm
I do wonder if we all see the exact same pages / discussions? We need a codeword!  ;D
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: Fleecewife on November 02, 2016, 11:31:09 am
Thanks YL.  Not much on there though, after TAS and FutureLearn when folk are very voluble  :thumbsup:


For a code - how about TAS fw, or YL etc at the bottom of any comment?
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: Bex on December 14, 2016, 01:48:34 am
This one's all finished now.

There's another one I've just signed up to called 'the horse course' that starts in January.

Just thought I'd mention it. ????
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: Fleecewife on December 14, 2016, 11:15:45 am
I fell by the wayside unfortunately.  Can I carry on with it, as with Futurelearn, in spite of everyone else having finished?  I know I wouldn't get a certificate, but I didn't want one anyway.
Did you enjoy the whole course Bex?
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: YorkshireLass on December 14, 2016, 01:34:51 pm
I also dithered, I think you can defer or restart a course, but if you paid to get certificate you've lost that money.

I like the code!
Title: Re: Animal behavior and welfare mooc
Post by: Bex on December 15, 2016, 04:23:29 am
Yes, I believe you have access to the course material for as long as you like but won't get a certificate.

I did enjoy it. Some of the videos were a hard watch but it was interesting exploring my own views and opinions regarding animal welfare and how they compare to current standards and regulations.
I often question my own morals and ethics around animal welfare especially as it pertains to eating meat and whether I can still justify not being a vegetarian.
As it stands I am still happily omnivorous :)

I was fairly 'horsey' when I was younger but haven't been on or near one in years. And as I plan on having, at the very least, a few rescue donkeys once we get our smallholding, I thought this horse course would be a good way to brush up, so to speak.  :horse: