MOOC MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSE

BY FAAIZAH MAHOMED 20130403703 AUGUST 2015TEACHING STUDIES 3B

WHAT DOES A MOOC ENTAIL OF?

MASSIVE Uses the Internet to connect with others all over the world

OPEN No charge for students in some courses

ONLINE Learning together

COURSE A MOOC Covers a single topic of study

WHAT IS A MOOC In essence A MOOC is a free internet-based, distance learning program, designed for students from all around the world to participate in. A MOOC may be used for a particular university course or may be less structured at times. Although MOOCs don't always offer academic credits, they provide education that may enable certification, employment or further studies.

The brief history of MOOCs

The first MOOCs emerged from the open educational resources (OER) movement. In 2008, First MOOC presented at University of Manitoba with ~ 2200 learners, the

term MOOCs was devised by Dave Cormier and Bryan Alexander in response to a course called Connectivism and Connective knowledge (also known as CCK08)

The CCK08 led by George Siemens (Athabasca University) and Stephen Downes (National Research Council) in 2004 develop theory of Connectivism, “the thesis that knowledge is distributed across a network of connections, and therefore that learning consists of the ability to construct and traverse those networks (Downes, 2012, p.9). It consisted of 25 tuition-paying students in Extended education at the University of Manitoba, as well as over 2200 online students from the general public who paid nothing.

2010: Dave Cormier videos about MOOCs added to YouTube (Cormier, 2010)

The brief history of MOOCs cont…

MOOCs records 1.2 million unique visitors per month with 250,000 graduates of its 500+ courses as of January 2013. In February 2014, ALISON registered its 3 millionth user

2012: Harvard’s first MOOC has 370,000 registered students

(Pappano, 2012) 2012: Coursera launches from Stanford; offers first xMOOCs

(Chen, 2012) New York Times calls 2012 “The Year of the MOOC” Pappano,

2012)

Why use MOOCs?Networked learning offers opportunities to share

ideas, exchange knowledge, and work in collaborative teams

Learning takes place through interaction, questioning, searching for information, and discussing what has been discovered

Collaborative work prepares students for real-world employment

WHY USE MOOC’S CONT… Diverse learners bring fresh experiences from their

varied backgrounds “Rhizomatic” learning: just as rhizomes in plant roots

propagate new plants, networked learning creates new nodes of information and higher levels of interaction among participants (Cormier, 2012)

Requires independent learning and encourages students to become responsible for their own knowledge.

MOOC Cycle

Some expectations when undertaking a MOOC of your choice.

Types of MOOCsHowever the aforementioned types

can be in the following forms:

Network based.

Content-based.

Task based.

cMOOC xMOOC connectivistMOOCS

adaptiveMOOCS

groupMOOCS

transferMOOCS SocialMOOC

Benefits of MOOCs You can organize a MOOC in any setting that has connectivity.

You can organize it in any language you like.

You can use any online tools that are relevant to your target region or that

are already being used by the participants.

You can move beyond time zones and physical boundaries.

It can be organized as quickly as you can inform the participants.

Contextualized content can be shared by all.

PROS & CONS ADVANTAGES

Free unless college credit is offered Learning is informal and at student’s

own pace Computer and internet access are only

resources needed Students can share work, critique

others and receive feedback Great instructors without high tuition of

host school

DISADVANTAGES

xMOOCs involve costs, sometimes significant

Limited real-world engagement (face time)

Technical difficulties Academic dishonesty possible Students must learn to be responsible

for their own learning

WHAT AM I INTERESTED IN?

I am interested in various courses as I have mentioned before, as a “Jill of all trades” I am definitely spoiled for choice. There are various courses I could pursue in order to be prepared for any common experiences in the classroom or school environment. However I would love to venture outside of the educational faculty. Working in the design business I am tempted to do an interior design course, but the sites that I have visited are not available to commence. Therefore the other option I am leading towards is a photography course.

What mooc I want to do

Photography

Ref cont………. Cormier, D. (2011, November). Rhizomatic learning - Why we teach? Retrieved from

Dave's educational blog: http://davecormier.com/edblog/2011/11/05/rhizomatic-learning-why-learn

Downes, S. (2012). Connectivism and connective knowledge: Essays on meaning and learning networks. Moncton, NB: National Research Council Canada.

► Cormier D, Siemens G (2010) Through the open door: open courses as research, ► learning, and engagement.Chen, C. (2012, April 18). Coursera launches humanities

courses. The Stanford Daily. Retrieved from http://www.stanforddaily.com/2012/04/18/coursera-launches-humanities-courses/

► Levy & Schrire. (2011). Kibbutzim College of Education, Technology, and the Arts