MOOCs – overview & issues
description
Transcript of MOOCs – overview & issues
MOOCs – overview & issues
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigblue/317855467/
The early MOOCers
• David Wiley• George Siemens & Stephen Downes• Alec Couros• Dave Cormier• Jim Groom
http://www.flickr.com/photos/happymichael/3679460209/
MOOCs tended to be..• Short – 8-10 weeks• Open to all• Use mixture of free technology• Run by individuals• Not often accredited• Combine synchronous &
asynchronous• Bring in range of experts• Experimental in nature
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mysnapps/2801547080/
How did they fare?
• High drop-out rate• Often confusing for learners• Better suited to experienced
learners
• Popular• Inspirational• Platform for open research• Successful for many learners
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dnnya/2559183847/
Enter the big players
• Thrun – Stanford AI course
• Becomes Udacity• EdX• Coursera
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/4017680287/
New wave of MOOCs
• Free, but not entirely open• Commercial basis• Institutional• Conventional in pedagogy & technology• Linked to accreditation
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barenboime/2355747124/
Benefits
• Better chance of employee recognition
• Provide model for economic viability
• Provide platform for easy deployment
• Offer free (or cheap) education to many
http://www.flickr.com/photos/myeye/2181264107/
Concerns
• Undermines university model
• Conservative approach• Reinvent the OU!• US-centric view?• Only viable if M = Massive• Not so open• All disciplines?• Commercialisation of HE?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8929612@N04/4911298118/
So…
• Are new MOOCs MOOCs at all?• Can both live side by side?• Is the trade-off between the benefits &
concerns a good one?• Don’t dismiss them• Is it all hype?• Could it damage unis (& if so, does that
matter?)