Shaping the Future:
The Open Academy Initiative
Mark BROWN, Eamon COSTELLO,
Enda DONLON & Mairéad NIC GIOLLA MHICHÍL
Dublin
26th May, 2016
Outline…
1. MOOC debate
2. MOOC platforms
3. DCU Open Academy
Outline…
1. MOOC debate
http://www.parlorpress.com/invasion_of_the_moocs
1. MOOC debate
http://www.portlandpresspublishing.com/content/wenner-gren-international-series-volume-88
1. MOOC debate
1. MOOC debate
Gartner Hype Cycle
MOOCs
2015 - 35 million learners
2014 - 18 million learners
http://www.onlinecoursereport.com/state-of-the-mooc-2016-a-year-of-massive-landscape-change-for-massive-open-online-courses/
1. MOOC debate
2. MOOC platforms
- ALISION
- EdX
- Udemy
- Iversity
- OpenUpEd
- Open2Study
- OER universitas
- FutureLearn
- Moodle
Options…
2. MOOC platforms
“Resilience requires
adaptation and evolution to new
environmental conditions, but retains core identity”
(Weller & Anderson, 2013, p.55).
2. MOOC platforms
Strong Pedagogical Community
LowBrandAwareness
HighBrandAwareness
Weak Pedagogical Community
2. MOOC platforms
Strong Pedagogical Community
LowBrandAwareness
HighBrandAwareness
Weak Pedagogical Community
2. MOOC platforms
• 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
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)
= 4
(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
2. MOOC platforms
3. DCU Open Academy
3. DCU Open Academy
3. DCU Open Academy
Part of Irish State’s National
Commemorative Programme 2016
3. DCU Open Academy
• Part-Funded ‘Department of Arts, Heritage
and the Gaeltacht’
• Fiontar – multi-disciplinary Irish Medium
Academic School
3. DCU Open Academy
Aimed at Global Irish Diaspora
Tweets in Irish - #Gaeilge
3. DCU Open Academy
3. DCU Open Academy
3. DCU Open Academy
3. DCU Open Academy
Conclusion
• Ecology of innovation
• Shaping platform development
• Part of wider strategic investment
In sum…
Conclusion
The DCU Open Academy will be launched after the Summer
break…
“A prudent question is one-half of wisdom”
Francis Bacon
http://www.slideshare.net/mbrownz
mairead.nicgiollamhichil@dcu.ie
Go raibh
maith
agaibh!

Shaping the Future: The Open Academy Initiative