A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to host an expert panel debate on the subject of MOOCs.
What are MOOC’s, you ask?
It stands for Massive Open Online Courses. In the world of education and training, they have garnered considerable attention and debate. Some say that this new technology will change higher education forever, causing thousands of traditional institutions to disappear while it dramatically lowers the cost of education. Others say it holds promise, but the hype has gone too far. The MOOC will change education in various ways, but it will not lead to a fundamental transformation.
Outside of formal higher education, MOOCs hold enormous potential for continuing education, professional development and training. Organizations that want to grow must grow people, and MOOCs offer an opportunity to learn in a completely new way. On my recent trip to Africa, I had many conversations about the transformative potential MOOCs offer in this regard. Corporate leaders should be studying this potential.
The above video is an abbreviated snapshot of the conversation. If you would like to see the entire MOOC debate, it is here.
Many thanks to the panel participants:
Bryan Alexander, author of The New Digital Storytelling, an editor of the Horizon Report and a frequent writer/speaker on digital technology in education;
Anya Kamenetz, a contributing writer for Fast Company, the Digital/Edu blogger for the Hechinger Report, and author of Generation Debt and DIY U.
Ray Schroeder, Professor Emeritus and Associate Vice Chancellor for Online Learning at the University of Illinois at Springfield, and Director of the Center for Online Leadership and Strategy at the University Professional and Continuing Education Association;
Audrey Watters, a technology journalist and founder of Hack Education;
Cathy De Rosa, OCLC Vice President for the Americas and Global Vice President of Marketing.
