article thumbnail

How Blockbuster MOOCs Could Shape the Future of Teaching

Edsurge

After all, so-called MOOCs, or massive open online courses, were meant to open education to as many learners as possible, and in many ways they are more like books (digital ones, packed with videos and interactive quizzes) than courses. One of the newest blockbuster MOOCs is The Science of Well-Being, offered by a Yale University professor.

MOOC 147
article thumbnail

In China’s Silicon Valley, Edtech Starts at the ‘MOOC Times Building’

Edsurge

One sign of that: There’s a 22-story tower in the country’s capital officially named the “MOOC Times Building” that houses a government-supported incubator for edtech companies. But MOOCs were trending upward back in 2014 when the education incubator was established, so it made a catchy name for the building.

MOOC 124
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

MOOC Pioneer Coursera Tries a New Push: Selling Courseware to Colleges

Edsurge

That means that colleges could use the Coursera software as an alternative to their learning-management system. Besides, he adds, selling courseware is more lucrative than just software. Colleges have tried to offer courses built around MOOC materials before—and it hasn’t always gone well. They need to show a story of growth.”

article thumbnail

Can We Design Online Learning Platforms That Feel More Intimate Than Massive?

Edsurge

Unfortunately, most massive open online course (MOOC) platforms still feel like drafty lecture halls instead of intimate seminar rooms. I think we’ve seen this reemergence—unintentionally—in the form of MOOCs. In creating online learning platforms, we scaled the equivalent of open schools without first learning how to build classrooms.

article thumbnail

Online Learning's 'Greatest Hits'

Edsurge

The next big move came when instructional designers, as part of their skillset, turned to digital authoring systems, software introduced to stimulate engagement, encouraging virtual students to interface actively with digital materials, often by tapping at a keyboard or touching the screen as in a video game.

article thumbnail

Technology in Schools – Future Changes in the Classroom.

EdTech4Beginners

More class time can be spent on the craft of editing – especially when film editing software can now be found on the same tablet or smartphone device that the footage was shot on. The appearance of massive open online courses (MOOCs) mean that it’s possible to study film-making online among other niche topics.

article thumbnail

Should Online Courses Go Through ‘Beta Testing’? How One Provider Taps 2,500 Volunteers

Edsurge

Coursera was a pioneer in offering MOOCs, or massive open online courses, in partnership with hundreds of top colleges. While attention around MOOCs has died down, the company seems to have found a business model for free courses with something it calls Specializations. I have to say, a week of beta testing is not nearly enough.”

Course 146