MOOCS-MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE CONTENT

COURSES
John Lancett
EDCI 750
April 12, 2014

WHAT IS A MOOC?

It is the response to the limitations that

educational institutions place on
learning.

Key Features
Open to anyone
Variety of courses
Networked Learning
Collaborative
Self-Paced
Mastery of Material (Bloom)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
eW3gMGqcZQc

http://blog.programmableweb.com/2013/08
/22/education-technology-trends-part-imassive-open-online-courses-moocs/

TYPES OF MOOCS
1. xMOOCs-Star Lecturers, video based,
designed experience, certificate
available
2. cMOOCs-Chaotic choose your own
path courses, blogs and social media
based, geared toward confident
advanced learners
3. Open Boundary or Open ClassroomDelivered in-person and then
supported with online environment,
still free in nature

EDX.ORG

Key Features

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
1u_QKOrXyMM

Introduction video for the organization

Backed by Universities
Courses Taught by certified
professors
Certificates available for a cost
Wide variety of topics possibly
the most extensive
Contemporary issues but very
much geared toward higher
education
Collaboration is possible and is
key to development

KHAN ACADEMY

Very popular Open Content System

Very Mathematics based

Can create courses for your students

Can create and submit videos for all

subjects

User community is the teachers

No certificates available

Data Driven (so they say)

Some people are critical of the

methods used

Comments? Who has used it?

COURSERA

University Backed

Peer Assessed

Mastery Style Moderation

Certificate available

Courses have start and end dates

Many are 8-12 weeks in length

Blends short video lectures with

assessments

And Social Media

ITUNES UNIVERSITY

Much the same concepts as the other

MOOCs

Very University backed, does have K12 options

Not as interactive as some of the of

the MOOCs

Criticism is that it is not Web 2.0 which

is more about collaboration and
development

Lots of people use this though simply

because it is Apple based

CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION

Conclusions: Not all MOOCs are the same and some are nothing more than simple lists
of videos.
Key is determine what you are looking for in your classroom and for your lessons to
before you decide which one to use.
Questions

Would you use MOOCs in you classroom?

Do you think there are any major concerns with the content that MOOCs provide?

Are the courses worth it if they do not provide a certificate of some sort?