Early last year I was searching for online classes and came across a list of “MOOCs.” This was a new term for me, so I did some more research. MOOCs, massive open online courses, are a new movement in online education. While the term MOOC has been around since about 2008, it seems that they’ve gained more popularity in the last couple years. In 2012 and 2013 the major MOOC organizations, Edx, Udacity, and Coursera, were launched. So, what exactly is a MOOC?
You can read about them on Wikipedia, or do a google search, but in this post and the next I’ll explain what MOOCs are and then share my thoughts on them. So, firstly, a good definition of MOOC should start with explaining the acronym.
Massive because these courses are available to thousands, even tens of thousands, of students.
Open because the courses are free, and because most of the time the content is made available openly online.
Online because, obviously, the course takes place over the internet.
Course because there is a structure and specific expectations. There is a syllabus, assignments, deadlines, and everything you would expect from a typical course.
I find MOOCs fascinating because it is yet another development in the world of education, just as Khan Academy was revolutionary when it first came out. Technology is changing the world, whether we like it or not, and so I like seeing all these new approaches to education. This is one reason why I’m taking MOOCs, simply because I want to see their evolution and progress. A MOOC I took last semester, Ideas of the 20th Century, was one of the first to attempt automated grading of our essays. I can’t say how this turned out yet because there were some technical glitches and the grading is still in process. But it is a neat concept and I’m curious to see where it goes.
So, what is it like taking a MOOC? You can find MOOCs by visiting sites like Coursera or Edx. Each course has its own page with the course info and requirements. You can choose to sign up, or you can put it on your watch list. This is handy if the course is closed (has been given in the past) or if the current session doesn’t fit with your schedule. For instance, there are some interesting classes I wanted to take last semester, but already had too much going on, so I put them on my watch list. I will be notified when the courses are offered again. If you choose to sign up for a class, you’ll be sent an email with the start date of the course and any other pertinent information.
When the course opens, you will have access to the course homepage. This usually has links to all the materials, along with a blog for notifications and announcements. It is important to read through all the instructions the professor makes available. I like to get a general feel of the course’s rhythm up front, this helps me with scheduling time for everything. One of my classes, Fantasy and Science Fiction Literature, was a bit tricky because essays were due each Tuesday, then you had to peer review essays by Thursday, then the video lectures were released along with the next week’s reading assignment. It took me a couple weeks to get into a good pattern with this one because the schedule was different. MOOCs generally have video lectures from the professor, assigned reading, and then either essays or quizzes. It also helps to review the grading structure that the professor will use. Also, this is a good time to review the material and estimate how long it will take each week. In the History of Rock Music I took last summer, I figured the lectures would take maybe an hour, or an hour and a half to get through. They were significantly longer, and took at least 3 hours per week. And with the fantasy class, I did not realize we would be reading the equivalent of a complete novel every week. So it is good to evaluate the materials to make sure you are allowing enough time.
After you get an idea of what the schedule will be, you should start booking it into your calendar. MOOCs don’t get done unless you intentionally make time. Decide if you will sit down and do everything at once, or if you’ll give it an hour or two a day over the week. You can adjust this as you go, but get it down on your calendar. I eventually found a good routine with my Modern and Postmodern Philosophy course, I’d spend an hour or two on Tuesday doing the assigned reading, watch the lectures on Wednesday, and then spend Thursday through Saturday writing my essay. But the important thing is to make time in your schedule and stick to it, because otherwise the work simply won’t get done. About only 10% of students enrolled in a MOOC actually complete it, primarily for this reason. Since the course is free, you have to be extremely motivated to keep going.
For reasons I have yet to understand, the final grading for MOOCs typically takes at least a week, usually longer. Since it is all automated, I don’t see why it takes this long to process the results and generate final grades. But anyways…after the course is completed, you’ll be notified that grading is in progress, and then you will get an email when the grades are available. Since you know the grading rubric and know your grades on the individual assignments, you can usually pretty accurately calculate your final grade while you’re waiting : )
If you pass the course, you typically receive a Certificate of Accomplishment. Some classes also offer a certificate with distinction, if your grade was above a certain level. Coursera is also offering verified certificates for some courses. These verified certificates cost $50 per course, and they essentially link your physical identity to the online course. You’re asked to send Coursera a picture of your driver’s license or official ID, and then each time you submit an essay or exam you submit a webcam picture to prove that you’re who you say you are. This is optional, and I think would mostly be useful if you’re taking a class related to your work or business.
Anyways…that’s how you take a MOOC!
In Part 2 I’ll share my thoughts on my own MOOC experiences, the benefits, drawbacks, and what MOOCs might look like in the future.
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