Conflicting narratives in higher education policy
Maureen W. McClure, University of Pittsburgh
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Conflicting Narratives
MOOC narratives run in
divergent directions based on
different foundational
understandings of their
purposes. (Innovation is
increasingly global)
Noblesse Oblige
Democratic Empowerment
Peer Learning (cMOOCs) Simultaneous, Knowledge
Creation
Self-Organized Learning
Expert Teaching ( xMOOCs) –
“Generational,” Knowledge
Sharing
Institutional Sustainability
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INTERRUPED COMMUNICATIONS
This Graphic Arts Biennial exhibit in Tivoli Park shows lines of
poetry in English, Slovenian and sign language. The blurred image
shows the confusion that arises across translations.
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MOOCS UNHINGED
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GARTNER HYPE CYCLE
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ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS PERSIST
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LURKERS AREN’T ALL THE SAME
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MOOCs For Institutional Sustainability
Peer Learning and Expert
Teaching in HE need different
balances of institutional
support, but both require
recurrent funding.
MOOCs are not monolithic.
They are shaped by their
assigned positions within
institutions. Economic
positions are also political
choices.
Cost Centers
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Political Production: Profit /Cost Centers
We see ourselves as Profit
Centers (Production)
• HEIs as Growth Driver
• Direct contributions
• Investment + return
• More likely to be funded
Others see us as Cost Centers
(Consumption)
• HEIs as Service Delivery
• Indirect contributions
• Accountability + compliance
• More likely to be cut
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MOOCs as Innovation
and Marketing Centers
“Marketing and innovation
produce results: all the rest are
costs.” (Drucker)
HEIs are innovation centers. They
create ideas. They are also
marketing centers because they
directly connect innovation to
learners.
INNOVATION
MOOCs may better link HEI
innovation and learning …but be
careful…a dangerous game…it
opens the game to new players
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Follow Up With
 The Maturing of the MOOC: Literature review
of Massive Open Online Courses and other
Forms of Online and Distance Learning’ - UK
Department for Business, Innovation and
Skills
 Revisit SPOC niches (Small Private Online
Courses)
 Links to both political and economic
development policy issues (e.g. skills gap,
jobs war, generational quality)
 Wikipedia, Google Trends
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QUESTIONS FOR YOU
What are you hearing about MOOCs?
Costs to be controlled or
Investments in the future?
What is missing from the conversations
about MOOCs that you are hearing?
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