This session was delivered to staff at the Mountbatten Library at Southampton Solent University. It was a 'show and tell' talk that gave an overview of MOOCs and their benefits to those taking them. All images are from Clipart except those that are screen grabs.

1. MOOCs: What’s with the Hype?
Sam Taylor
Learning Technologist

2. What are MOOCs?
M
Massive
O
Open
O
Online
C
Course
100s
1,000s
10,000s
100,000s
?
Free to anyone Delivered via the
internet
- Set course of
study
- Structured
activities
- Supported by
lecturer
Many sign up –
very few actually
‘complete’
Need to create an
account
Some apps
available for
offline delivery
Activities
dependent on
type of MOOC

3. Types of MOOCs
cMOOC:
• These courses follow the ‘connectivist’ approach to
learning (mainly via peers), but facilitated by a lecturer.
• Find answers to questions by connecting with the
participants on the course and making and sharing your
own conclusions.
• These courses often rely on Open Source
software and social media to deliver and
develop content.

4. Types of MOOCs
xMOOC:
• Content is delivered via a strict course structure on a
specific platform consisting mainly of video lectures
followed by an activity/quiz.
• This model is similar to traditional methods
of teaching (sage on the stage).
• Very popular format – involves very little
collaboration with peers

5. Who ‘MOOCs’?
• Tricky question! Not who you think ;)
• Marketing tool?
– Many already have degrees and
postgrad degrees
– ‘Hobby learners’
– Career development seekers
• Pastoral support?
• Library access…?

6. Virtual Teacher MOOC #2

7. Why do a MOOC?
Continued Professional
Development
Personal Development
Explore something new
that interests you
Experience online learning
Connect with like-minded people
Why not?

8. Share online:
Blow your own trumpet!

9. A free education online:
too good to be true?
“The promise: free education for all.
The reality: the well-educated elite tweak their qualifications.
When universities began offering Moocs – free online courses
open to all – the idea was that people in developing countries
would get access to the best teachers in the world. But so far the
typical learner is educated, affluent and living in the global
north.”
Watch the video debate:
http://www.theguardian.com/education/video/2014/mar/06/free-education-online-video-debate
Source: Guardian.com 6/3/2014

10. Popular platforms
 Ed.X https://www.edx.org/
 Open2Study https://www.open2study.com/
 FutureLearn https://www.futurelearn.com/
 Saylor http://www.saylor.org/
 Coursera https://www.coursera.org/
 Udacity https://www.udacity.com/
 iVersity https://iversity.org/
 Alison http://alison.com/
 Academic Earth http://academicearth.org/

11. Take a look!

12. Links to resources:
• Hyperlinked Library MOOC
http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/programs/moocs/hyperlinked-library-mooc
• ALCTS Webinar Series: Libraries and MOOCs
http://www.ala.org/alcts/confevents/upcoming/webinar/moocs
• What do Librarians Need to Know About MOOCs?
http://www.dlib.org/dlib/march13/wright/03wright.html
• Massive Open Opportunity:
Supporting MOOCs in Public and Academic Libraries
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/05/library-services/massive-open-opportunity-supporting-moocs/#_

13. Thank you!
Sam Taylor (ext: 3290)
• Sam.Taylor@solent.ac.uk
• http://about.me/samwise
• Twitter: @samwisefox
Free seminars, sessions & opportunities:
 Technology Enhanced Community of Practice (go!)
 1hr Wonders of Educational Technology (go!)
 Learning Technologies training (go!)
 Teaching & Learning Portal pages (go!)
 Learning with Lynda.com (go!)