MOOCs

WHAT IS MOOCS

MOOCs stands for:

M: Massive

O: Open

O: Online

C: Courses

WHAT IS MOOCs

MOOC is a course offered online and is aimed at exposing any individual who has access to internet to learn in a collaborative and interactive way.

It is aimed at supporting a limitless number of participants-massive

MOOCs are like distance education e.g. anyone across the globe can participate in the course for free-open online

What is MOOCs

Anyone who is computer literate and willing to participate in MOOCs is allowed to do so.

Good news: no entry requirements, e.g. its not important whether you have a matric certificate or degree

However, it is different from traditional learning because sometimes there is no instructor when learning takes place.

Thus; participant create their own content and share knowledge amongst themselves-it becomes chaotic in this sense.

What is MOOCs

MOOCs reinforce lifelong learning.

Encourages critical thinking amongst participants

MOOCs are sometimes offered by elite universities to assist in accomplishing their mission.

Students, professors, teachers and knowledge experts are often stakeholders in MOOCs.

What is MOOCs

MOOCs require participants to be responsible for their own learning; self-regulation

Needs computer/technology/digital literacy

No accreditation (except when one has to pay to be accredited by a university that offers the course)

Participants learn at own pace thus its not compulsory for one to complete-therefore dropout rate is too high

THE HISTORY OF MOOCs

2008

2012

2013

First MOOC was launched by

educators Stephen Downes and George

Siemens

Two professors from university of Stanford namely Sebastian Thrun

and Peter Norvig introduced another MOOC for free

It was called ‘ Connectivism and

Connective Knowledge/ 2008’(2008)

2,200 people registered

It was called ‘Introduction to Artificial Intelligence’.

160 000 people registered

Open university built its own MOOC called

Futurelearn featuring universities from UK

Coursera EdX

TYPES OF MOOCs

MOOCs

xMOOCs cMOOCs

Content-based Connectivism Teacher-centered

Learner-centered

TYPES OF MOOCs

xMOOCs Behaviorist approach

Traditional leaning-discussions , lectures, assignments

Higher education schools/colleges

Coursera and EdX

cMOOCs Connectivist approach

Peer learning

Discussion forums

Individuals, Academics, Non-profits

Disruptive

Participants create own content

My expected MOOCs experience

Area of interest: Teaching and learning

Topics: Biology, Psychology, Constructive teaching

I have evaluated a few MOOCs that I would like to participate in this semester,

e.g. Constructive classroom conversation and Foundations of Teaching and learning: being a teacher.

Some of the courses will be valuable in my teaching practices.

Possible courses for me!

Constructive Classroom Conversation( Secondary) (SA) is offered by Stanford University.

It commence on 6 March

Duration: 29 weeks

Foundation of Teaching for learning 2. Being a teacher (SA)

It commences on March 17

Duration: 7 weeks

REFERENCE LIST

http://moocnewsandreviews.com/a-short-history-of-moocs-and-distance-learning/ (Visited on 21/02/2014)

http://moocnewsandreviews.com/ultimate-guide-to-xmoocs-and-cmoocso/ ( Visited on 21/02/2014)

http://reflectionsandcontemplations.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/what-is-a-mooc-what-are-the-different-types-of-mooc-xmoocs-and-cmoocs/ (Visited on 18/02/2014)

http://www.openculture.com/free_certificate_courses (Visited on 18/02/2014)

http://www.slideshare.net/oerafrica/the-rise-of-moocs (visited on 19/02/2014)

http://www.slideshare.net/LynGoodnight/multmedia-presentation-goodnight (Visited on 17/02/2014)