This document discusses MOOCs and the DCU Open Academy initiative. It begins with an overview of the debate around MOOCs, their role and impact. It then examines different MOOC platforms and evaluates them based on criteria like technical quality, pedagogical focus, sustainability and reputation. The document introduces DCU Open Academy, which aims to offer online Irish language courses as part of Ireland's commemoration of 1916. It is partially government-funded and targets the global Irish diaspora. The conclusion emphasizes that DCU Open Academy will help shape platform development and is part of a wider strategic investment in online learning.

1. Moodle in the Age of the MOOC:
The DCU Open Academy Initiative
Mark BROWN, Eamon COSTELLO,
Enda DONLON & Mairéad NIC GIOLLA MHICHÍL
London
23rd March, 2016

2. National Institute for Digital Learning

3. Outline…
1. MOOC debate
2. MOOC platforms
3. DCU Open Academy

4. 1. MOOC debate

5. Image by @dkernohan
1. MOOC debate

6. Another colonialist tool?
http://www.parlorpress.com/invasion_of_the_moocs
1. MOOC debate

7. • a type of marketing
• an academic labor policy
• a kind of entertainment media
• an expression of Silicon Valley values
• a financial policy for higher education
MOOCs are…
Peters, M. (2013). Massive Open Online Courses and Beyond: the Revolution to
Come. Truthout, August 17
1. MOOC debate

8. 2. MOOC platforms

9. - Open2Study
- ALISION
- Moodle
- EdX
- OER universitas
- Udemy
- Iversity
- OpenUpEd
- FutureLearn
Options…
2. MOOC platforms

10. Strong Pedagogical Community
LowBrandAwareness
HighBrandAwareness
Weak Pedagogical Community
2. MOOC platforms

11. Strong Pedagogical Community
LowBrandAwareness
HighBrandAwareness
Weak Pedagogical Community
2. MOOC platforms

12. • How technically fit for purpose is the platform?
• How pedagogically fit for purpose is the platform?
• How sustainable is the business model for the platform?
• How confident are you in the sustainability of the platform?
• How reputable are the partners associated with the platform?
• How strong is the pedagogical community supporting
innovation through the platform?
Key questions…
2. MOOC platforms

13. Key
Questions
Future
Learn
Open
2Study
Open
UpEd
Open
EdX
Moodle Udemy
How technically fit for
purpose is the platform? (3 x 3)
= 9
(3 x 3)
= 9
(0 x 3)
= 0
(3 x 3)
= 9
(2 x 3)
= 6
(1 x 3)
= 3
How pedagogically fit for
purpose is the platform? (3 x 3)
= 9
(3 x 3)
= 9
(1 x 3)
= 3
(3 x 3)
= 9
(3 x 3)
= 6
(1 x 3)
= 3
How confident are you in
the sustainability of the
platform?
(2 x 2)
= 4
(1 x 2)
= 2
(1 x 2)
= 2
(1 x 2)
= 2
(1 x 2)
= 2
(1 x 2)
= 2
How reputable are the
partners associated with
the platform?
(3 x 3)
= 9
(2 x 3)
= 6
(2 x 3)
= 6
(3 x 3)
= 9
(1 x 3)
= 3
(0 x 3)
= 0
How strong is the
pedagogical community
supporting innovation
through the platform?
(3 x 3)
= 9
(1 x 3)
= 2
(2 x 3)
= 6
(2 x 3)
= 6
(2 x 3)
= 6
(0 x 3)
= 0
Total
2. MOOC platforms

14. 2. MOOC platforms

15. 3. DCU Open Academy

16. 3. DCU Open Academy

17. 3. DCU Open Academy

18. Part of Irish State’s National
Commemorative Programme 2016
3. DCU Open Academy

19. • Part-Funded ‘Department of Arts, Heritage
and the Gaeltacht’
• Fiontar – multi-disciplinary Irish Medium
Academic School
3. DCU Open Academy

20. Aimed at Global Irish Diaspora
Tweets in Irish - #Gaeilge
3. DCU Open Academy

21. 3. DCU Open Academy

22. 3. DCU Open Academy

23. 3. DCU Open Academy

24. 3. DCU Open Academy

25. 3. DCU Open Academy

26. Conclusion
• Ecology of innovation
• Shaping platform development
• Part of wider strategic investment
Finally…

27. Conclusion
The DCU Open Academy and Irish 101 will be launched as
soon as we have a Minister…

28. “A prudent question is one-half of wisdom”
Francis Bacon
http://www.slideshare.net/mbrownz
mairead.nicgiollamhichil@dcu.ie

29. Go raibh
maith
agaibh!