The failure of MOOCs

Dr Phillip DawsonOffice of the PVC (Learning & Teaching)

Monash University

failure, noun: “The fact of failing to effect one’s purpose” (Oxford English Dictionary, failure, n. 3a)

purpose

Coursera: About Coursera: Our Vision

“We believe in connecting people to a great education so that anyone around the world can learn without limits.

…

We envision a future where everyone has access to a world-class education that has so far been available to a select few.”

General Telephone, print ad from 1963

http://blog.coursera.org/post/64907189712/a-triple-milestone-107-partners-532-courses-5-2

“Access without support is not opportunity”

tamuccmarcom’s Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/80429560@N03/7747388444/sizes/o/in/photolist-cNBoEQ-9b3eS5/

“a future where everyone has access to a world-class education”

https://theconversation.com/moocs-and-exercise-bikes-more-in-common-than-youd-think-9726

failure, noun: “The fact of failing to effect one’s purpose” (Oxford English Dictionary, failure, n. 3a)

purpose

Who is a typical Coursera student?

• Enrolled in 2 computer science MOOCs• Employed full-time• Probably from US/UK or BRIC

http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/coursera.org

purpose:access, or opportunity?(or marketing)