The document discusses Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and their key features. MOOCs have massive participation with over 150,000 students, are open to anyone with internet access for free, and are taught by high-profile instructors from prominent institutions. They rely heavily on short videos, online quizzes, weekly homework, and peer/instructor feedback through forums and video office hours. The document examines specific MOOCs from Udacity and Coursera and notes outstanding questions around their business potential and supporting effective independent learning at scale.

1. Messing with MOOCs
Michael Rees
@mrees
michaelrees.tel
Talk resources at talks.michaeljrees.com

2. Massive
Open
Online
Courses
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3. Massive
• As many as 150,000
Open
• Anyone of any age
Online
• Internet access, free
Courses
• High-profile, professional presenters from
high-profile institutions
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4. MOOC Features
Heavy reliance on many, short videos
Several online quizzes per unit
Weekly homework, exercises
Help via traditional online forums, peer mentoring
Office hours videos for direct feedback
Statement, certificate of completion
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5. Udacity CS253 Web Apps Engineering
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6. Interactive coding for assessment
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7. Homework
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8. Coursera CS101
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9. Outlook for MOOCs
Industry Business Case
Acceptance • Can free MOOCs be
• Replace degrees? sustainable
• If not, what value? • How much would
you pay?
Effective
Learning
• Rely on self-
discipline
• Cheating is easy
• Allow upskilling and
career change
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