There’s no lack of opinions about massive open online
courses (MOOCs). Some view the free online classes as making inexpensive
learning possible for the masses, while others point out that thousands sign up
but few actually finish the courses.
The real impact, according to Joshua Kim in his
blog for Inside Higher Education, is in residential learning. The innovations from MOOCs
have been a catalyst for more attention and investment in traditional classroom
instruction.
“The impact of MOOCs is that no institution wants to
have residential courses that are comparable in quality (and outcomes) to
MOOCs,” Kim wrote. “Residential classes must add value beyond that which can be
gained (and measured) in open online education.”
That’s particularly true of introductory classes that
traditionally have large enrollment. These classes will either need much more
funding or be offered as online classes. At the same time, large-enrollment
introductory classes can provide a path to making big residential courses even
better, according to Kim.
“The
same team of faculty, instructional designers, media educators, librarians, and
assessment experts who have gained trust and experience in working on MOOCs
will also work on redesigning large-enrollment residential classes,” he wrote.
“The desire to leverage data and analytics to evolve pedagogical practices that
has been so much a part of the MOOC world also applies to residential teaching
and learning.”
