Presentation for Museum Computer Network 2013 conference regarding the phenomenon of Massive Open Online Courses and the potential for the model to be used and remixed in a museum setting, including what would make a MOOCseum unique from other MOOCs
2. MOOC = MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSE
Massive – Available to many; potentially limitless # of
learners
Open – The structured learning experience (course &
supplemental materials) is free of charge
Online – The hub of the course is based on the Internet via a
host institution; interaction happens throughout the Web.
Course – A time-defined period of study including registration,
af filiation and commencement.
3. A (VERY) BRIEF HISTORY OF MOOCS
2008 – The first MOOC, #CCK08, is taught by learning theorist George Siemens
as a test-drive of his learning theory Connectivism. The acronym MOOC is coined
by fellow EdTech scholars.
2011 – Four Stanford Computer Science professor s of fer three cour ses
online at no charge to students not enrolled at the univer sity. Hundreds of
thousands of students register.
201 2 – Three of those professor s star t up two distinct MOOC development
organizations – Udacity and Cour sera. MIT and Har vard create their own
non-profit organization, edX.
2013 – There are over 5,000,000 registered user s from over 200 countries
across the Big 3 platforms, with likely millions more on smaller platforms
or in institution -based MOOCs. MOOCs enjoy millions of dollar s of
financing and venture capital. Politicians seek to ease accreditation
restrictions to allow these EdTech ventures into the education marketplace.
2013 – Udacity founder Sebastian Thrun, in part due to struggles faced when rolling out
courses to underrepresented university students, announces a company pivot away from
Global access to education and a focus on corporate-based education
4. OBSTACLES IN THE MOOC PHENOMENON
Th e re i s n ot a n a g re e d - upon
s c h olarly de fi n it ion o f t h e M OOC.
E ve r y l et te r i n t h e M OOC a c ro ny m i s
c o n te n t ious.
H e a ds o f t h e B i g 3 M OOC pl a t fo rms
l a c k ex pe r t i s e i n h um a n e duc a t i o n
t h e o r y.
E duc a t i o n t h e o rist s a n d
pra c t i t i one r s l a c k ex pe r t i s e i n
AI/ M a c hine Le a rn i ng t h e o r y.
Po l ic y de c i sions a re be i n g m a de o n
M OOCs be fo re a ny s o r t o f t ri a l run s
o r te s t i ng.
Po pul a r de ba te a s s umes M OOCs
a re s y n o ny mous w i t h di s t a n ce o r
o n l ine l e a rning.
Po pul a r de ba te pi n e s fo r M OOCs to
be a d i s ru p ti ve te c h n ol ogy t h a t c a n
s ave e d u c ati on t h ro ug h .
If M OOCs a re o n l y a bo ut c o n te n t ,
M OOCs a l low a s i g nific ant de c re a se
i n a c a de mic/ pro fessorial l a bo r.
5. WHY IS THE MOOC PHENOMENON
AWESOME?
Mainstream discussi ons about
distance education, online
education and educational
technology.
Professor s teaching MOOCs
challenged to address their
pedagogical practice.
Mainstream discussions about
what Open means (open access,
open content, open education
resources).
More societal super structu res re engaging education provides
more unique voices in how we as
a society shape the future of
education policy and education
institutions.
6. LEARNING VS. EDUCATION
“Education is about audit relationships, where a hierarchy
expects a product that demonstrates learning. They are not
interested in the process of the learning practice.”
- Etienne Wenger
8. MOOC – A (POTENTIAL) HUMAN-DRIVEN
LEARNING MACHINE
MOOCs
cMOOCs
Structure – Housed in LMS
(learning management system)
requiring login credential
Objective – A master y of the
subject matter; formal
education
Content – Lecture via shor t
videos providing established
path to master y
Assessment – Interactive
exercises, quizzes, tests graded
by computer or peer s
Communication – Via discussion
boards; social media happens
outside the scope of course
Structure – Housed in LMS or
via open hub
Objective – An authentic
engagement with subject
matter; non -formal learning.
Content – An amalgam of
lecture, primar y source and
discussion prompt providing
various means to engage topic
Assessment – Creation of
digital learning ar tifacts; peer
collaboration in lieu of grades
Communication – Social media
is the crux of the course (blogs,
Twitter/FB, Google Docs,
Google+ hangouts, etc.)
9. MOOCS & MUSEUMS – A GOOD FIT
MOOCs are an oppor tunity for
authentic par ticipation (and
two-way communication)
between the institution and
the patrons.
The MOOC can re -establish the
museum in the local (and
beyond) community.
The MOOC can re -establish the
museum as a socially -viewed
space of exper tise.
MOOCs can highlight special
collections, traveling
exhibitions, topical issues,
etc.
The star t and end of a MOOC
creates an event unique to
space and time. It is a cohor t
of learner s with the ability to
become a community.
10. WHY IS THE MOOCSEUM UNIQUE?
1. The MOOCseum is a traditional
MOOC.
2. The MOOCseum is a tangible space
(possibly with tangible events).
3. The MOOCseum is an augment of
the digital and the real.
4. The MOOCseum is a supplement;
it is evidence of desired learning.
Cupcakes (2010) by Megan Fizell. Icing-on-flour/sugar
11. OVERCOMING LOGISTICS
Obstacles
IT
Co s t
Ti m e/Work loads
In s t i t ut ional P us h ba c k
( Re l uc t an ce/Z eal)
Audi e n c e
Potential Solutions
A M OOC c a n run v i a LM S ( o pe n s o urc e o pt i o n s s uc h a s M o o dl e o r
Ca nvas) o r v i a s po ke - and - w he el o n
fre e s e r ver ( Wo rdP re ss, Ty pe Pa d ).
H a rdwa re c a n be fre e . P ri m a r y
c o s t w i l l be e m ployee -base d.
If e n g aging t h e co n te n t a ro un d
ex i s t ing a r t i fa c t s, h um a n re s o urc e s
c a n fo c us o n de s ig nin g l e a rn ing
s pa c e , pro m pt s , s o c ial m e di a,
i n te ra c tio n…
E duc a t i o n s h o uld n ot be a h a m mer
i n s e a rc h o f a n a il. Set c l e a r g o a ls
a n d o bj e c t ives fro m t h e s t a r t fo r
t h e e n t i re te a m .
Po s t m odernism s ay s we a re n ot
j us t s t ude n t s but we a re k n ow l edge
c o n s umer s. If yo u bui l d i t , t h ey w i l l
come.
12. EXAMPLE MOOCS
Coursera
MoMA MOOC - https://www.coursera.org/course/ artinquiry
E-Learning & Digital Cultures – https://www.coursera.org/
course/edc
Modern & Contemporary American Poetry - https://
www.coursera.org/course/modernpoetry
edX
(Resource on MOOC research) - https://www.edx.org/researchpedagogy
cMOOC
Educational Technology & Media - http://etmooc.org
Wide World of Education - http://wideworlded.org/onlineinstruction-for-open-educators/
MOOCMOOC - http://www.moocmooc.com
13. THANK YOU
Rolin Moe
Ed.D Candidate, Learning Technologies
Pepperdine University
Dissertation – The Evolution & Impact
of Massive Open Online Courses
Capstone - MOOCseum
Twitter - @RMoeJo
Me – http://rolinmoe.org
Me & MOOCs – http://allmoocs.wordpress.com