Now in OLTD 505 we are exploring MOOCs and I have been doing some investigating. I have decided that in the spirit of 505 where we are talking and learning all about sharing online resources through Open Educational Resources (OERs) I would share my knew found knowledge of MOOCs with those that have been living under a rock or are too shy to ask.
Here is a definition of a MOOC:
“A massive open online course (MOOC) is an online course aimed at large-scale interactive participation and open
access via the web. In addition to traditional course materials such as videos, readings, and problem sets, MOOCs
provide interactive user forums that help build a community for the students, professors, and TAs. MOOCs are a recent
development in distance education.” (Wikipedia)
Do MOOCs offer credits?
“MOOCs make an elite education available to anyone, typically for free but without course credit.” (Boston Globe) Many
MOOCs issue certificates upon completion of the course, but very few institutions accept them as credits, even at the
recommendation of the American Council on Education in early 2013. This lack of motivation has partly contributed to the
extremely low completion rate of MOOCs (typically less than 10%), and thus helped casting doubts on the education
model like an Ouroboros loop. (Georgetown)
So if there is no course credit, what is the draw for the masses of people taking MOOCs? Perhaps this answers the question:
“Today, some of the world’s top educators are extolling MOOCs as a phenomenon that could transform the lives of people
unable to attend top colleges in person, including young people in Third World villages, American working moms, and
restless retirees.” (Georgetown).
However, I wonder what the draw is for someone who already has a University degree? For those with a degree is it a love of learning and not the credits, and the simple furthering of knowledge for their own benefit? It seems MOOCs are a University learning experience without the degree. Perhaps MOOCs are a stepping-stone for those considering University credit courses, or those in third world countries trying to get their “minds” on any education they can. As a teacher I understand and value education in any form, and support life long learning. I also understand that learning is the reward and not the credit received for doing so. However, we are human and there is that need to succeed and be validated for our efforts so I am very curious what are the reasons behind someone completing a MOOC? What would your reason(s) be?
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In my search for answers I came across this blog of a man that decided to see if he could complete a Bachelor of Arts in one year through MOOCs.
“This ‘Degree of Freedom’ blog will chronicle my one-year effort to learn the equivalent of a Bachelor’s entirely through free
online classes. The ‘degree’ I will be pursuing will be in liberal arts (I plan to “major” in philosophy), which itself should
open up some interesting conversations, given that MOOCs are just beginning to branch out from their initial focus on
popular computer science subjects.” (The one year MOOC BA)
“The entire course load for this project will involve taking the equivalent of 32 liberal arts college courses between now and
the end of 2013, a number large enough to allow me to sample the product from every MOOC provider currently making
headlines, as well as a number of other alternatives for free quality college-level content that don’t get this same level of
coverage.” (The one year MOOC BA)
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