What is MOOC and How Does it Work?
You must have heard educators and learners use the term MOOC often. Have you ever wondered what it means? And why is it so important for the education system? Well, this blog will help you understand the exact meaning of MOOC. Keep reading to learn more!
What is MOOC?
The Massive Open Online Course or MOOC is a free online learning program offered by colleges and universities around the world. MOOC courses are an affordable and flexible learning option designed for geographically dispersed students to deliver quality education at scale and advance their careers. The term was first introduced in 2008 in the USA to define easily accessible, free, and web-based distance learning courses. It is a chance for learners to study in the top universities in the world without shelling out a hefty amount.
Although MOOC doesn’t provide academic credits or result in a formal qualification, it enables students to gain knowledge in different domains. These courses offer better employment opportunities, corporate learning & training, university certification, and a chance to develop professional skills. Generally, MOOC is for higher education courses and career advancements but during the pandemic, schools and undergraduate programs also implemented MOOCs.
Benefits of MOOC
- Break Geographical Barriers
Massive Open Online Courses don’t require students to move to another city or country to attend their classes. As it’s a distance learning method, learners can save time and effort by eliminating daily commutes. This also improves collaboration without any physical dependence. - Access to Higher Education
For students who can’t travel abroad for studies, this is a convenient way to get access to high-quality education. They can learn from the best colleges in developing countries without moving there and seek better employment opportunities. Also, this contributes to sustainable development efforts by offering an accessible learning infrastructure. - Affordable Learning Option
MOOC also removes financial barriers by providing equal and affordable education opportunities to students. The courses are more cost-effective as compared to in-person classes and there are no hostel or travel expenses. - Flexible Classes & Schedule
Many of the MOOC online courses are recorded, so students can learn at their own pace. Moreover, working professionals can adjust the time of classes according to their schedules. If course completion is not self-paced, then prerecorded lectures provide better flexibility daily and weekly.
How Does MOOC Work?
MOOC is an online learning method but the courses have a specific start and finish date like typical in-class sessions. The programs run multiple times in a year, lasting for weeks instead of months or years like university courses. Considering that it’s a web-based option, students use a range of online media and interactive tools to communicate better with peers and teachers. These ed-tools are used for video discussions, assignments, social networking, and lectures.
MOOC has attracted a large number of students over the past years. Hence, it has a huge community to support learners and help them complete MOOC courses with certificates. Progress is tracked at every step through peer-reviewed assignments and computer-marked tests rather than teachers.
Conclusion
With the evolution of the internet and technology in the education system, demand for online courses has also increased. The number of students enrolled in distance learning programs to hone their technical skills has grown significantly. Thus, making MOOCs a new standard of education at different levels, from Diploma to postgraduate. Institutes missing out on this new way of learning need to keep pace with the change to stay in line with their peers.
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