MOOCs
Massive online classes
MOOCs, an acronym for massive open online courses, are internet-based educational programs designed to accommodate unlimited participation and open access.
Universities and platforms like Coursera and edX offer MOOCs on subjects ranging from computer science to philosophy, typically free to audit though often charging for certificates.
I took a MOOC on machine learning last summer.
The format gained popularity in the early 2010s as a democratizing force in higher education.
Online learning platform
- Khan AcademyFree online education nonprofit
- UdemyOnline course marketplace
- SkillshareOnline creative learning platform
- MoodleOpen-source teaching platform
video lectures · quizzes · assignments · certificates · enrollment · dashboard · course catalog · progress tracking
Educational program's content plan
- syllabusCourse plan document
- lecturesFormal instructional talks
- pedagogyArt of instruction
- certificationAttestation of qualification
accreditation · coursework · assessment · learning outcomes · professors · instructors · students · learners
Learning without tuition
- open enrollmentDesignated benefits signup window
- global reachExtent of international influence
- massivenessExtreme largeness in scale
- scalabilityCapacity for growth
democratization · lifelong learning · flexibility · subtitles · transcripts · closed captions · multilingual · offline access
Tasks requiring active participation
- webinarsStreamed educational broadcasts
- podcastsEpisodic digital audio programs
- multimediaCombined content formats
- animationsMoving image sequences
simulations · gamification · microlearning · instructor-led · discussion threads · live sessions · project-based · capstone projects
Equals evaluating each other
- study groupsStudents reviewing material together
- cohortsGroups of accomplices
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
feedback · mentorship · comments · social learning · alumni networks
Coursera
Online learning platform
- Khan AcademyFree online education nonprofit
- UdemyOnline course marketplace
- SkillshareOnline creative learning platform
Moodle · video lectures · quizzes · assignments · certificates · enrollment · dashboard · course catalog · progress tracking · peer review
curriculum
Educational program's content plan
certification · accreditation · coursework · assessment · learning outcomes · professors · instructors · students · learners · knowledge
free courses
Learning without tuition
- open enrollmentDesignated benefits signup window
- global reachExtent of international influence
- massivenessExtreme largeness in scale
scalability · democratization · lifelong learning · flexibility · subtitles · transcripts · closed captions · multilingual · offline access · affordability
interactive exercises
Tasks requiring active participation
- webinarsStreamed educational broadcasts
- podcastsEpisodic digital audio programs
- multimediaCombined content formats
animations · simulations · gamification · microlearning · instructor-led · discussion threads · live sessions · project-based · capstone projects · specializations
peer assessment
Equals evaluating each other
- study groupsStudents reviewing material together
- cohortsGroups of accomplices
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
collaboration · feedback · mentorship · comments · social learning · alumni networks
- higher educationuniversity, college, degree, diploma, graduate school
- educational mediaeducational videos, educational films, educational games, educational podcasts, educational toys
- free stuff onlinefree ebooks, free trials, freeware, free courses, free software
- learning resourcestutorials, library, textbook, guides, study guides
- online learningcourse, online courses, online lecture, video conferencing, lesson plan
- self-studyself-teaching, flashcards, study guides, practice tests, note-taking
MOOCsone-on-one tutoring
Individual teaching arrangement
private tutoring · master classes · mentorship · apprenticeships
MOOCsclassroom learning
Instruction in a school setting
hands-on training · hands-on labs · study abroad programs · traditional schooling