E-learn Weblog of Willem van Valkenburg

This month there were quiet some interesting articles that are interesting to read. Here a selection (in random order):

• 5 Things Researchers Have Discovered About MOOCs
  In December 2013 a group of academics gathered during a Texas snowstorm and began the second phase of a discussion about massive open online courses. They were not terribly impressed by the hype the courses had received in the popular media, and they had set out to create a better body of literature about MOOCs—albeit a less sensational one.
  
  
• Monetizing MOOCs – When Is it Right to Switch to Self-Serving Classes?
  this blog post explores why someone might want to pay for a MOOC. What can a student expect of a MOOC and is it really worth the time and/or money?
  
  
• Can MOOCs lure international students to U.S. colleges and universities?
  Some online education advocates argue that MOOCs can lure international students to colleges and universities in the U.S. The University of Pennsylvania has developed a MOOC precisely for this purpose: a course titled “Applying to U.S. Universities.” And the State Department has woven online courses into its international education agenda, with the hope that MOOC-driven outreach programs will entice foreign students to study in the U.S.
  
  
• Online learning at research-intensive universities needs a strategic approach
  Online learning has the potential to change teaching and learning at European universities profoundly. Recent trends have greatly accelerated the development of and investment in online learning, at research-intensive universities in particular.
  
  
• ICDE: Ten useful reports on MOOCs and online education
  This digest of reports and papers published over the past year is provided to support the ongoing debate on MOOCs, Open Educational Resources and online education. A brief summary of the contents, dates of publication and extent are given.
  
  
• The Supply and Demand of MOOCs Infographic
  MOOCs offer a flexible and free way to learn ICT skills, which are in high demand by employers. This infographic shows some of the key findings from a study published by the MOOCs for Web Talent Network.
  
  
• Dissertation Roling Moe: The Evolution & Impact of the Massive Open Online Course
  This dissertation attempts to pinpoint the MOOC as a phenomenon and said phenomenon within how society views/ed education in 2014.
  
  
• Coursera shifts focus from 'impact on learners' to 'reach of universities'
  Levin is signifying a change at Coursera, and he is not just a new CEO to manage the same business.
  
  
• Christensen's Disruptive Innovation after the Lepore Critique
  Must innovation disrupt everything so that society might have new and better things?
  
  
• Corporate learning redefined. Prepare for a revolution
  It’s a new age for learning & development. Online content, MOOCs, collaboration tools, and social media now fuel a training model where employees own their skills and experts share knowledge freely.
  
  
• 8 Things You Should Know About MOOCs
  Before Harvard and MIT released data last month on their first 16 edX MOOCs, we already knew a few things: Millions of people register for massive open online courses, though far fewer receive certificates of completion. Most MOOC participants already have a college degree, even those outside the United States. But there was a lot we didn't know, especially about who took different types of MOOCs and how much of the course content they viewed. This information may be valuable to those looking to design and lead successful MOOCs. Here's what we've learned from this first data release covering more than half a million students.
  
  
• MOOCs Won't Replace Business Schools — They'll Diversify Them
  Over the past few years, business school administrators — like other university officials — have been losing sleep over Massive Open Online Courses (or MOOCs), worrying that these low-cost digital alternatives will cannibalize their business model.
  
  
• 11 Differences between a MOOC and an Online Course
  "A MOOC is a non-defined pedagogical format to organize learning /teaching/training on a specific topic in an informal, online, and collaborative way."