MOOC Unmasked

Online Events Archive

Online Forums 2013 - August 15, 2013

Buck Bard

Director of Learning
OSIsoft

The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is here, but it’s not new by any stretch. Open-source, open-content learning has been around for over a decade. Like many “overnight” sensations, though, MOOCs required the intersection of a few key players and technologies to emerge in our popular culture. MOOCs needed the entrepreneurial spirit and ingenuity of today’s web developers to gain a place on the world’s stage. The MOOC is a form of classroom experience that, backed by some of the world’s most prestigious universities, is now spreading like wildfire. One MOOC provider alone topped a million learners in 2012! The real advantages of MOOCs are that they can deliver learning across wide user bases and geographies, can be inexpensive to develop, and can provide a unique learning experience. But MOOCs have many challenges, and you need to develop a plan and make decisions that make sense for your learners.

Participants in this session will start by taking a fun look at the history of MOOCs. You’ll then explore why this format is so effective, and how it intersects conceptually with adult-learning principles. You’ll also dissect the MOOC and look at avoiding some pitfalls in your development process.

In this session, you will learn:

How to define where MOOCs fit into your learning strategy
How to determine if your learners need a MOOC
The components of a good MOOC
How to find the right balance of pieces
Ways to maximize the value of your program to your learners and your organization

Handout(s)

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Recording

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