Presentation at annual European Association for Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU), Online, Open and Flexible Higher Education Conference, Milton Keynes, UK, 26th October, 2017.

1. MOOC Platforms, Participation and
Business Models: Tensions in Focus
Prof. Mark Brown, Ass. Prof. Mairéad Nic
Giolla Mhichíl, Dr. Eamon Costello, Dr.
James Brunton

3. TENSIONS
MOOCS

5. Jansen, D., & Konings, L. (2017). MOOC strategies of European Institutions. EADTU –
Available: http://eadtu.eu/documents/Publications/OEenM/MOOC_Strategies_of_European_Institutions.pdf

6. TENSIONS
Average MOOCer…

7. Jansen, D., & Konings, L. (2017). MOOC strategies of European Institutions. EADTU –
Available: http://eadtu.eu/documents/Publications/OEenM/MOOC_Strategies_of_European_Institutions.pdf

8. Typology of
MOOCS
Mass-Market Approach Niche-Market Approach
Formal
Approach
Targets a broad group of
students in terms of geography
and occupational background
and provides formal
recognition through course
credits that can count towards
college degrees
Targets a narrow group of
students in terms of geography
and occupational background
and provides formal recognition
through course credits that can
count towards college degrees
Informal
Approach
Targets a broad group of
students in terms of geography
and occupational background
& provides informal
recognition through badges or
diplomas
Targets a narrow group of
students in terms of geography
and occupational background &
provides informal recognition
through badges or diplomas
Source: Adapted from: Tømte, Fevolden, & Aanstad, (2017). Massive, Open, Online, and National? A
Study of How National Governments and Institutions Shape the Development of MOOCs International
Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, Volume 18, Number 5, pp.212-226

9. COMMERCIAL PLATFORMS MONETISING
SHOW ME THE MONEY

11. https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/views/2017/04/12/three-steps-making-
moocs-money-makers

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

16. ADVENTURES IN MOOC LAND...

18. Strong Pedagogical Community
LowBrandAwareness
HighBrandAwareness
Weak Pedagogical Community

19. Strong Pedagogical Community
LowBrandAwareness
HighBrandAwareness
Weak Pedagogical Community

20. Open to Shaping
Closed to Shaping
WeakLearningDesign
StrongLearningDesign

21. Open to Shaping
Closed to Shaping
WeakLearningDesign
StrongLearningDesign

24. STRATEGIC DIGITAL INNOVATION

28. Go raibh maith
agaibh!