Overview of MOOCs and Distance Learning

Overview of MOOCs and Distance Learning
MOOCs stands for? Massive Open Online Courses? Perhaps you’ve taken one or two of these, or maybe
you’ve never heard of them. If you’re not familiar with what Massive Open Online Courses are, they are
courses that anyone can take, online, usually at no cost to the consumer. When choosing a class that
you want to take, if you see a $, then the course is free. If you wish to earn credentials, however, you’ll
need to pay in order to so. You don’t necessarily need to enroll in college unless you want the
credentials, and there is no tuition. You simply go to a site that is offering Massive Open Online Courses
and choose the one you would like to take.
MOOC classes are still relatively new but their popularity is starting to take off. The first classes were
offered in 2006 but they really didn’t start to take hold until six years later, in 2012. They offer
traditional coursework along with films and readings. Their interactive forum allows students to
participate in an online forum, gaining knowledge from professors as well as fellow students. You now
have the ability to expand your knowledge in several areas of expertise, including computer science,
business management, data sciences, and more.
Before the age of digital technology, those who came before us took courses in the traditional sense.
There were classes through correspondence and after that we learned through radio stations and
broadcasts on television.
It was only in the early 2000’s that digital learning became the new standard of learning. All of a sudden
there was this new thing called distance education. It meant that those seeking a college degree now
had options. They could work during the day and take classes at night.
Most major universities now offer some type of distance learning, whether it be by earning a degree, or
by simply taking a Massive Open Online Course, we now have so many more opportunities to learn.
Once MOOC was developed, other programs soon followed. These include Khan Academy and Alison
which are both similar to MOOC. They are all a separate entity of the university system but they still
emphasis individual learning and education that is self-paced. There is no rush when taking an online
course. Many universities allow students to go at their own pace and finish when they are ready. The
longer one takes, however, the more it will cost them.
Many major universities, such as Harvard and MIT recently released new online courses available to
take. These are called HarvardX and MITX. These classes include courses in computer science which
make up the largest part of the MOOC enrollment. Other popular subjects include:
Science History Health
Other Universities that offer MOOC Courses include:
Princeton University--Algorithms II Stanford University--Game Theory II: Advanced Applications Duke
University--Art of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy
And while you didn't earn a college diploma by taking any of the MOOC courses classes, you will earn a
certificate that says you took the class, and that you passed. And if you’re not quite ready to attend an
actual university, a MOOC is a good way for you to get your feet wet. Attend a class or two online to see
what it’s like before enrolling in a bigger university.

If you’re not familiar with what Massive Open Online Courses are, they are courses that anyone can take, online, usually at no cost to the consumer. When choosing a class that you want to take, if you see a $, then the course is free.

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