Unraveling Open Education developments – next MOOCs generation?

Fred de Vries

GO-GN Cape Town

11 December 2013

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My talk

• Context

• Research focus

• Research strand 1

• Research strand 2

• PhD proposal

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Context: ‘moving target’

• European focus

• New ways of Open Education for Life Long Learning and professional development

• MOOCs are an introduction to the changes in HE

• A changing playing-field of ODL HE institutes

• TEL and OER play a big role.

• NOT concentrating on Degree Programmes.. but on CPD and LLL in HE

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Context: Opening up Education

European agenda (IP/13/859 25-9-2013)

•Reshaping education using OER and TEL

•Creation of Open Learning Environments

– Digital literacy of both educators and learners

•Certification and acceptance of digitally acquired skills for further learning or work.

•Funding programmes Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020 to support universities with new business models and educational models

•EC stimulates universities to change

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Context: challenge of HE

• How will new forms op Open Education actually change the policies of universities and the behaviour of learners in choosing courses for their own professional development and LLL

• Their will be not one model of ‘Open Education’ but multiple variations to be distinguished

• Take snapshots of the main developments

– In terms of business model

– In terms of educational model

– How students, educators and employers deal with this change

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Context: OpenupEd

• Openness to learners

• Digital openness

• Learner-centred approach

• Independent learning

• Media-supported interaction

• Recognition options

• Quality focus

• Spectrum of diversity

174 courses

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Research in two strands

Find possible evidence for

the transformative educational potential of OER for improving accessibity, quality, efficiency, effectiveness of education

•By focussing on a specific kind of MOOCs: OpenUpEd

•In a systematic way over a longer period:

1. longitudinal study with repeated survey questionnaire

2. In-depth study of MOOCs that develop in an interesting direction

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Research strand 1: MOOC Knowledge (IPTS)

• Longitidual 3 year study with 3 PhDs UOC, UPM, OUNL supported by IPTS

• Survey on regular intervals in different EU-languages

• 5 repeated data-collections in 30 months

• See the development of:

– Demand

– Business model

– Costs

– Completion rates

– Learning outcomes

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Research strand 1: MOOC Knowledge (IPTS)

Profile of learner:

-Acquired Higher degree

-LLL and CPD activities

-Digital literacy

-Experience with MOOCs

-Motivation for using MOOCs

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Research strand 1: MOOC Knowledge (IPTS)

Providers of MOOCs

•Number of participated students over time

•Number of returning students to the same institute

•Characteristics of their MOOC offerings

•Business model

•Educational model / Pedagogy

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Research strand 2: In-depth analysis

• Focus on MOOCs that develop in an interesting direction

• for students (no drop-outs)

• Educators (innovative pedagogy)

• management (impact, revenu)

• Employers (accepting MOOCs with / without certificates)

• Selection of MOOCs and their institutes based on longitudinal study

• In-dept Interviews with stakeholders (repeated)

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PhD proposal

• Work out literature review

• PhD proposal to be finalized in Spring 2014

• Start up IPTS MOOCknowledge study in February 2014