The unseemly clamor around xMOOCs in the media continues.
On my various Higher Ed eLearning feeds I have counted 23 articles in the last 2 weeks.
Rather than list them here is a very rough summary
- Surprise, surprise, MOOCs actually cost much more money and take much much more time that academics expected.
- Universities continue to sign on to commercial MOOC platforms (in preference to just running them off their own institutional platforms)
- As expected, more universities are considering xMOOC related course accreditation (this is the only way for universities to currently make money from xMOOCs).
- More universities are considering the use of commercial platforms for the online delivery of courses to traditionally enrolled students (this is not a MOOC – some journalists are getting confused). The materials are also being made freely available to any who want to come and play (this is the MOOC bit).
- edX (not for profit and open source) is starting to gain a little, ground recruiting 15 more US universities. (Here’s how they will cover their costs. Again, why not run it off your own platform with out the extra cost).
- Some smaller groups and individuals are offering their own MOOCs off a range of platforms/sites (actually this is not new, it has been going on for years we just didn’t call them MOOCs).
- The experience of developing MOOCs makes academic reflect on their teaching practice and either convinces them that the traditional way (i. e. banging on in lectures) is still best, or a bit more commonly, that there things they can improve on. (Personally, I think this may be one of the best reasons to get involved in MOOCs)
- There are a range of other concerns which are really about Computer Based Training and distance education (all of which were researched and answered in the 80’s and 90’s)
As a last offering it might be a good time to reflect on Gartners technology hype cycle.
Peak of Inflated Expectations: Early publicity produces a number of success stories—often accompanied by scores of failures. Some companies take action; many do not.
Trough of Disillusionment: Interest wanes as experiments and implementations fail to deliver. Producers of the technology shake out or fail. Investments continue only if the surviving providers improve their products to the satisfaction of early adopters.
I’d suggest we’re not yet at the time where I’d recommended spending any of your own cash.