Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are free and open for any learner classes taught in an online environment (Alraimi, Zo, & Ciganek, 2015). In recent times, this phenomenon has become widespread. This paper examines the advantages and disadvantages of MOOCs and compares them with traditional online courses. On the example of my career, I describe the main reasons to choose MOOCs and consider whether these classes are relevant. Finally, the future and potential of MOOCs are explored.
Advantages and Disadvantages of MOOCs
The massive open online course model has several advantages that refer to all participants. First and foremost, it is the great diversity of ideas, opinions, and perspectives that resembles the openness exhibited by individuals in everyday life (Alraimi et al., 2015). Since persons from all over the globe may enroll in such courses, they share their experiences and views and simultaneously receive a wide range of information.
Another advantage is the benefit of distributing responsibility for teaching: peer assessment is an integral part of learning (7 things, 2011). Finally, MOOCs bring profit to colleges and universities that offer such opportunities: because a larger audience can have access to the materials, these institutes lower barriers to knowledge and outspeak in the community.
As for MOOCs’ disadvantages, they deal with a great number of people. For some learners, contacts with the instructors are significant, but the format of MOOCs implies that most of the work is to be discussed with peers. In other words, there is little “teaching presence” (Bali, 2014). Further, some learners may be annoyed or distracted by nonlinear streams of information and multiple conversations in different platforms that occur simultaneously (7 things, 2011). As a result, people may feel overburdened. The third drawback is the possibility of improper behavior. Overall, the possible problems are more relevant to individuals and their personal preferences in teaching modes while the benefits of MOOCs are important for every learner.
MOOCs and Traditional Online Courses
The principle of online learning is not new: traditional online courses also take place in education. They have several common features with MOOCs but still differ.
Both types are similar in training aids: videos, readings, and other materials are suggested. They are offered online. Students complete assignments, submit them and receive their grades automatically. In most cases, there are some admission requirements, for example, a student should provide their e-mail and some personal data. Both MOOCs and traditional online courses have fixed starting and finishing dates. If a person wants a credential, they need to pay for learning.
As for the differences, MOOCs may be subdivided into two groups: courses with a similar to traditional course structure where content is formed by instructors (“xMOOC”) and course materials derived from students during the course (“cMOOC”) (Alraimi et al., 2015). In comparison, traditional online courses are predefined by educators only. The platforms on which these types are offered are also different: as a rule, MOOCs are based on Coursera, edX, Udacity, and Udemy; online courses are more frequently offered through Blackboard and Canvas (Alraimi et al., 2015).
Then, the number of people who join courses is dissimilar. Unlike MOOCs that give a chance to hundreds of students to take the same course, traditional courses usually include fewer students. Finally, the approaches to information access vary. MOOCs provide open access: everyone interested in them may register. Contrary to these conditions, online courses are intended for a limited number of people who study at a certain university.
An adult learner may find MOOCs beneficial in case they would like to gain knowledge in a completely new sphere. They might have a wrong idea about the contents of the subject and consider it useful for their career, but later they might be disappointed. Open online courses may become an opportunity to get acquainted with the new realm and the university that provides these courses and decide whether it is worth studying the subject chosen.
Reasons to Choose MOOCs
As an adult learner, I may choose open online courses for two reasons. They give a chance to master skills and keep up with the times. The material a person studied several years ago may be forgotten, but the current duties demand such knowledge as soon as possible. With MOOCs, one does not have to search for online courses and worry about the admission. Thus, MOOCs may help refresh knowledge quickly. Another reason is connected with the costs. An adult may lack money and still need additional training. Using MOOCs, they may achieve this goal.
I suppose I would take an xMOOC that provides the materials prepared by educators. In my opinion, such courses are intended for those who need the basics. Only after gaining the fundamental knowledge, cMOOCs that contain students’ materials may be useful. Not every learner needs to delve into a subject and scrutinize every detail; however, it depends on the course. Since I should learn the basic concepts and principles first, I would prefer xMOOCs and then sign up for MOOCs if necessary.
MOOCs and Career
Currently, I work in the sphere of adult education. My responsibility is to enroll adults in online and campus classes. In this context, I suppose MOOCs are directly connected with my career externally and internally.
As an employee who is connected with different types of classes, I may be asked by adult learners about additional opportunities to gain knowledge. They are likely to be busy and have little time for all courses that they would like to do. Apart from that, some of them may be unaware of the courses they should select. I guesstimate that most of them cannot distinguish between traditional online courses and MOOCs. Some people probably do not know about open online courses. Under such circumstances, I may give them the information they need and help make the right decision by reference to a particular situation. I will not only be able to share my knowledge and personal experience but also connect learners and institutes that run MOOCs.
Another issue deals with my education. Education is never irrelevant. I still have much to learn, and open online courses may become a nice opportunity to leverage my knowledge and skills. For instance, time and stress management courses may be useful to me. I would gladly learn some new material and methods to deal with large amounts of work because they might be more effective than the strategies I use.
Thus, MOOCs may provide external benefits in communication with adult learners and the internal ones in my education.
The Future and Impact of MOOCs
In the future, people’s expectations and methods of presentation are likely to be more consistent and predictable (7 things, 2011). Because learners will get used to this form of training, it will become an indispensable part of education. A typical learning track will include taking MOOCs and then enrollment to the university that runs these online courses.
Adult learners of different ages will not remain uninvolved. They will gain an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills at any time. It may be expected that their interest will grow, and MOOCs will become one of the main forms of adult education over time.
As for lifelong learners, it would be no exaggeration to state that this field will be the one where MOOCs will have limitless potential. A person will have a chance to become a part of a learning community and go beyond traditional classroom education (7 things, 2011). Regardless of income, the level of confidence, job changes, or workloads, one will be able to continue their education conveniently.
The impact on training will also be substantial. The traditional roles of instructors and learners, as well as the relationships between scholars and a wider public, will be changed. Massive open online courses will provide a platform for sharing and discussing various ideas. Openness and collaboration on equal terms will be the most important consequences of MOOCs.
Conclusion
To sum it up, MOOCs have great potential for all types of training including adult education. Despite several drawbacks, the advantages outweigh disadvantages: open online courses are assessable and rich in ideas. I find them beneficial for my career: they are relevant for communication with people and my knowledge enhancement. In the future, it is highly probable that MOOC format will become more popular among adults and lifelong learners.
References
7 things you should know about MOOCs. (2011).
Alraimi, K. M., Zo, H., & Ciganek, A. P. (2015). Understanding the MOOCs continuance: The role of openness and reputation. Computers & Education, 80, 28-38.
Bali, M. (2014). MOOC pedagogy: Gleaning good practice from existing MOOCs. The Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 10(1), 44.