The internet has always been a place for exchanging knowledge. Today more than ever, people are asking the internet for information. “Googling” has been an established term for a while, and Wikipedia is the online authority of choice for many users. The knowledge of the world is available to everyone online. But most of the time you are left to your own devices, and with the wide range of material out there, it’s often overwhelming to pick out the relevant information – unlike in a course.
Schools and universities are quite different – you work with classmates, or at least have people working on the same thing, and you’ll most likely have a course leader to structure and explain the contents to you. A MOOC tries to combine the advantages of both worlds – interactivity paired with the open access of the internet.
The acronym MOOC stands for “massive open online course.” The four parts of the term provide a good approach to the essence of online seminars:
- Massive: Thanks to the ever increased digitization of resources, massive open online courses don’t have to deal with the restrictions of physical educational institutions. That means that there is no limited number of participants. As a result, MOOCs can host between 100 and several thousands of students, and can truly be described as “massive.”
- Open: There are admission restrictions for universities in many faculties, depending on grades or experience, and other factors may contribute to people choosing not to go to university – such as money. Massive open online courses are free, and are open to anyone, regardless of income, culture, or educational background. Anyone with internet access can take part in the courses.
- Online: The seminars function completely via the internet. MOOCs therefore have a lot in common with distance learning universities. Learning materials are available regardless of location. This is combined with the numerous possibilities of e-learning. The internet-based publication of the materials gives teachers the opportunity to use digital resources.
- Course: MOOCs are often not just presentations. Most of the courses are based more on the concept of a course or seminar. Instead of simply absorbing information, students are involved in the whole process. Many massive open online courses include homework, and some even a final exam.
MOOCs have been around since 2008, when two pioneers in e-learning, George Siemens and Stephen Downes, launched the first massive open online course on the internet. Its topic was still directly related to the principle behind learning via the internet: “Connectivism and Connective Knowledge.” From there, more and more scientists have followed the example, and made teaching materials and lectures publicly accessible. MIT and Stanford University, in particular, recognized the potential of MOOCs early on and offered courses online.
Private companies have also recognized the opportunities. For example, Udacity and Coursera offer platforms for attending courses at university level. The companies themselves do not create their own massive open online courses, but work together with lecturers and universities. These platforms are usually offered free of charge. However, participants can take an exam at the end of a course and receive a certificate if they pass – this usually incurs a fee.
The range of MOOCs is highly diverse. While the first courses on the platform were mainly related to computer science, seminars in pretty much all subject areas are now offered. The courses aim to communicate their contents comprehensively and expertly. Some (e.g. a large part of what Udacity offers) are designed to prepare students for their careers and are more practically oriented.