This document outlines the history and evolution of MOOCs, including their origins among pioneers in open education and their later popularization by commercial platforms like Udacity and Coursera. It discusses both benefits and drawbacks of doing a MOOC, such as the opportunity to experiment but also risks to reputation. The document advocates that universities could use MOOCs to open up early weeks of courses, collaborate on higher quality offerings, and offer credit for shorter MOOC experiences. Overall, it acknowledges that MOOCing carries challenges but can also foster innovation if undertaken for the right reasons.

1. 5 reasons to do a MOOC
5 reasons NOT to do a MOOC

2. Overview
 Brief history of MOOCs
 H817Open
 5 Reasons to do a MOOC
 5 Reasons NOT to do a MOOC
 MOOC reactions
 Conclusions

3. The early MOOCers
 David Wiley
 George Siemens & Stephen Downes
 Alec Couros
 Dave Cormier
 Jim Groom
http://www.flickr.com/photos/happymichael/3679460209/

4. MOOCs tended to be..
 Short – 8-10 weeks
 Open to all
 Use mixture of free technology
 Run by individuals
 Often not accredited
 Combine synchronous &
asynchronous
 Bring in range of experts
 Experimental in nature
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mysnapps/2801547080/

5. How did they fare?
 High drop-out rate
• Popular
 Often confusing for learners • Inspirational
 Better suited to experienced • Platform for open research
learners • Successful for many learners
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dnnya/2559183847/

6. Enter the big players
 Thrun – Stanford AI course
 Becomes Udacity
 EdX
 Coursera
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/4017680287/

7. New wave of MOOCs
 Free, but not entirely open
 Commercial basis
 Institutional
 Conventional in pedagogy & technology
 Linked to accreditation (Pearson & EdX, badging)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barenboime/2355747124/

8. H817 Open

9. An open course in Open Education
 7 weeks
 Informal and formal learners
 Running in OpenLearn
 Badges
 2 ALS moderating forums
 Blog aggregator
 Collaboration-lite activity based model
 Starts March 16th
 Also an OER

10. Student spaces
Course spaces
The #H817Open ecosystem

11. 5 reasons to
do a MOOC #1
 Raise profile
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jepoirrier/6703754863/

12. 5 reasons to
do a MOOC #2
 Room to experiment
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robboudon/2928675554/

13. 5 reasons to
do a MOOC #3
 Broaden Curriculum
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ljb/25759982/

14. 5 reasons to
do a MOOC #4
 Students as networkers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31065898@N08/8220970905/

15. 5 reasons to
do a MOOC #5
 The joys of openness

16. 5 reasons NOT to do a MOOC #1
Reputation risk
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyncoles/2389407045/

17. 5 reasons NOT to do a MOOC #2
Bad learner experience

18. 5 reasons NOT to do a MOOC #3
Technology stress

19. 5 reasons NOT to do a MOOC #4
Costly

20. 5 reasons NOT to do a MOOC #5
It’s bloody
hard work

21. MOOC reactions
 The end of education as we know it
 Hype and nonsense
 Complementary to existing practice
Image – David Kernohan

22. MOOCs are your friend (?)
 Open up first 6 weeks of all courses
 Increase retention
 Widen participation
 Open boundary courses
 Shop window
 Gives students access to broader group eg Phonar
 Collaborate on MOOCs
 Higher quality
 Free up to teach what your best at
 Credit for MOOCs
 Shorter courses
 Higher retention
 Lower costs = more students?
 Experiment with curriculum
 Lower risk
 Fewer constraints

23. Conclusions
 MOOCing can be fun & innovative
 It carries risk
 It isn’t easy
 It isn’t for everyone
 Being MASSIVE & OPEN raises issues
 Be sure why you want to do one