This document discusses MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and provides reasons why educators should consider taking MOOCs for professional development. It defines what a MOOC is, noting that MOOCs are free or low-cost online courses that are open to unlimited participation and aim to provide opportunities for networking, collaboration, and lifelong learning. The document also provides tips on finding MOOCs through various course aggregators and lists some potential caveats to keep in mind such as maintaining motivation and participation levels. Overall, the document promotes MOOCs as a flexible way for educators to enhance their professional development and personal learning networks.

1. Boost Your PD with MOOCs JOHN ALLAN

2. Session path
What is a MOOC?
Reasons to consider MOOCs
Finding MOOCs?
MOOCs caveats
Questions?

3. John Allan
EFL instructor/developer
Currently in Doha, Qatar
Curious about Education technology
Mediocre MOOCs student - 8 for 13

4. What is a MOOC?
Massive
Open
Online
Course

5. What is a MOOC course?
Course with a published structure
Offered online
Offered by a wide array of providers
Offered to a large scale (number of students)

6. What is a MOOC course?
Free (certificate may cost)
Registration is usually open to all
Be aware that many are non-credit

7. What is not a MOOC?
Closed/restricted course
Registration fee for the course itself

8. Why take a MOOC?
An event around a topic
Collaboration with peers
Makes Connections with resources - network building
Life-long networked learning

9. MOOC is a step into lifelong learning
Independence in MOOC course path
Create authentic networks
Participatory
Combine with other PD activities to enhance your PLN
◦PLN = Personal Learning Network

10. Why take a MOOC?
Free
Diverse offerings
Usually flexible Scheduling
Mastery learning is common
Globally distributed

11. MOOC is distributed – Course elements
Twitter - tweets
Blog posts
Tags
Digital articles
Forums posts (discussions)
Video posts
Live / recorded webinars

12. MOOC participation
Up to you
Participation level
Was I successful? Up to you

13. Finding MOOCs
Online chatter
◦Social media
◦Institutional news
◦Peers
◦Email lists

15. How can I find a MOOC?
Aggregators
◦Open Culture
◦The MOOC List

16. Open Culture
http://www.openculture.com/free_certificate_courses
Listed by date
Course name
Provider
Instructors
Level
Language
Passing criteria

17. MOOC List
https://www.mooc-list.com
Listed by date
Course name
Provider
Instructors
Level
Language
Passing criteria, cost, …

18. Who offers MOOC courses?

19. Cooperatives

20. Explore a MOOC
https://www.coursera.org or https://www.futurelearn.com
Don’t sign up
Search for a course

21. MOOC caveats
Motivation - intrinsic
Recognition ? (Ignorance lessens value)
Participation level
Was I successful? (Up to you)

22. My experience
Reasonable success but,
◦personal fatigue
◦course did not meet expectations
◦course too demanding
◦simply wanted to audit the course.

23. MOOC webinar
https://moonliteproject.eu/events/webinars/language-learning-apps-moocs-for-refugees/

24. Questions & thank you