An explanation of what MOOCs are, how they can be build at low-cost and a discussion on why more people are not building them.

1. Massive Open Online Courses
Why isn’t everyone building them?
Brian Mulligan
Institute of Technology Sligo
Roscommon Learning Network
Abbey Hotel, Roscommon, November 10th, 2016
moocs4all.eu

3. Are MOOCs Financially Sustainable?
• Survey of 27 UK universities
– €40,485 average
• What about small target audiences?
– Specialised topics
– Minority languages
– Changing technologies
– Local needs
• Do they have to cost this much?

4. Why do universities spend so much on
MOOCs?
• Quality of Learning?
• Reputation?

5. Is the Coursera xMOOC pedagogy
sophisticated?
Do people learn?
“I got exactly what I wanted from it and more…
.. a most enjoyable and educational course”

6. If a course is good enough for 30
students,
is it good enough for 3000 students?

7. Are high production values required?

8. “Unleash Online Learning to
Address Global Inequality”
Mike Feerick, CEO of ALISON
SXSW in Austin, Texas
• “Our universities and colleges, almost without exception,
provide education and training that is too expensive”
• “We have been stopping people from educating themselves”
• “free online informal learning becomes an integral part of any
hiring decisions”

9. moocs4all.eu
• Collection and dissemination of low-cost methods
• Website and Community Forum
• MOOC: “Making MOOCs on a Budget”
– 3rd delivery – started 18th Oct, 2016
The Team
Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland
Technical University of Delft, Holland
Fachhochschule Bielefeld, Germany
University of Girona, Spain
Bath Spa University, UK
LoCoMoTion Project

10. Principles
• Real learning Not “glitz”
• Some options are not possible
• Reuse OER
• Templates
– PPT, Quizzes, Peer assignment
• Simple workflow for institutions

11. Video Content
• Simple graphics (avoid animations)
• Good microphone
• Minimise editing
– Tolerate mistakes
– Repeat sections
– Leave audio clues for editing

12. Standard College Subject
• 12 weeks x 2 x 1-hour lectures
• Handouts
• Lecturer and Peer support
• 2 or 3 assignments
• Final examination
50 x 15-minute recordings
Links to Open Educational Resources
Via forums
Peer-assessed
Quizzes before class
Open as a MOOC
In class time?
Flipped!

13. Thanks
Why isn’t everyone making a MOOC?
• Not that easy?
• Too little time?
• No desire to share?
• No recognition?
• Against employer policy?
• Can’t hear the message?
Thanks for listening – over to you!
moocs4all.eu
mulligan.brian@itsligo.ie