MOOCs: A New Means of Higher Learning

Abstract

MOOCs are an innovative way to conduct teaching-learning in online, with the help of internet technology. The objectives of the study are to Know about the user friendly characteristics of MOOCS. Know the role of MOOCS as an alternative to traditional education, role of MOOCs in higher education. Explore the benefits of MOOCS and to know about the disadvantages of MOOCS. It is a qualitative research. The study is conducted on the bases of researcher observation and critically analysis of the providing facilities of MOOCS in higher education. MOOCs is so popular because it is based on learner centered pedagogy, select learner interest topic, Value oriented, Language is no barrier here, globally use, any time anywhere, Learning is so enjoyable. MOOCs are no alternative to traditional formal education but it is modified then traditional learning. The special role of MOOCs in higher education is it is a free platform, Access for all, Professional development, Provide new courses. Including above benefits there are some limitations of MOOCs are- absence of physical classroom, absence of teacher physical interaction, Here individual attention by the teacher is absent, in remote area where internet connection is week where it is a big problem, most courses are provided by English that’s why language is one of the barriers, to assessment the students is difficult, interaction with teacher and other students is less.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

Over time technological advances have been made. Once upon a time a student had to read books and go directly to the institution to get education, but now the bookish thinking of education has come out and he/she is able to know and learn the subject of his/her interest while sitting at home. Oxford dictionary defines MOOCs as “A course of study made available over the Internet without charge to a very large number of people (Banwari, V, 2018).” Nowadays students do not want to be limited to general subject. They want to learn something that directly helps them develop skills. Again he is learning by saving time and money. He/she is learning as well as doing other things. And these are only possible with MOOCS. MOOC first appeared in 2008, and then MOOCS began to develop extensively in 2012. Today it has become a popular learning platform by meeting the huge demand of the people. Bates, 2015 define the elements of MOOC. The following aspects are the meaning of MOOC.

1. Massive: Designed for in theory unlimited number of participants. This means that the course is designed such that the effort of all services does not increase significantly as the number of participants’ increases.
2. Open: Access to the course is free without entry qualifications.
3. Online: The full course is available through the internet.
4. Course: The offering is a course, meaning that it offers a complete learning experience, (Banwari, V, 2018).

II. REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE

Evgun, P.(2013) has conducted a study on ‘Prospects for Success of MOOC in Higher Education in India’. The purpose of the paper was to focus on providing framework for for everyone who are a part of higher education. Here use a model in the thought of mind of university, trainers and students prospective for getting the total benefit of MOOC.

Zhussupbekov, A. (2015) has conducted a study on ‘Moocs and Their Implications for Traditional Higher Education Institutions’. They conclude that Although MOOCs provide an online platform to gain knowledge for free or for a small fee, they cannot replace traditional institutions because they provide students with constructive face-to-face guidance on the part of faculty.

Pouezevara, R, S & Horn, J, L. (2016) have conducted a study on ‘MOOCs and Online Education: Exploring the Potential for International Educational Development’. This paper explains MOOCs and compares with pre established online and open educational platform. MOOCs are a important learning platform to enhance the knowledge and competencies.

Yuan, L & Powel, S. (2013) in his study ‘MOOCs and Open Education: Implications for Higher Education’. The objective of the study is to help head in a higher education institutions gain a complete understanding of the characteristic of Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) and it will help to understand how they will implement in their institution effectively.

Huah, L & Goh. (2017) have conducted a study on ‘The Effectiveness and Challenges of Mooc for Learning’ to report on the experiences and challenges encountered in the process of implementing the MOOC in WOU is the objective of the study. The method of the study is Questionnaire survey to data collection. Descriptive data analysis was conducted using the data analysis in SPSS. There was slow take up from initial launch. And it is also told that learner participation is gradually decrease time by time and they are more enjoying with downloaded materials.

Kennedy, J. (2014) has conducted a study on ‘Characteristics of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): A Research Review, 2009-2012’. The objective of the study is to describe use of MOOCs in informal way and as a secondary way of learning. The study was conducted by literature review. Key characteristics are revealed: different definitions of openness, barriers to diligence, and an individual structure that take in the form as one of two educational approaches.

Aydin, I,E & Yazici, M. (2020) have conducted a study on ‘Drop-Out In MOOCs’. Objectives of the study-This study examined the factors that effected the MOOC participants’ noncompletion in the MOOCs Platform, entitled as AKADEMA, of Anadolu University, and their recommendations for improvement of these MOOCs. Methodology of the study: case study, data were collected by using an online questionnaire that included openended questions.

III. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

A. What makes MOOCs so popular?

B. Can MOOCS be used as an alternative to traditional education?

C. What are the special roles of MOOCS in higher education?

D. What are the benefits of MOOCS?

E. What are the disadvantages of MOOCS?

IV. OBJECTIVES

A. Know about the user friendly characteristics of MOOCS.

B. Know the role of MOOCS as an alternative to traditional education.

C. The special role of MOOCS in higher education.

D. To know about the benefits of MOOCS.

E. To know about the disadvantages of MOOCS.

V. METHODOLOGY

It is a qualitative research. The study is conducted on the bases of researcher observation and critically analysis of the providing facilities of MOOCS in higher education.

VI. FINDINGS & DISCUSSION

A. What makes MOOCs so Popular?

1. Based On Learner Centered Pedagogy: It basically emphasized on learner centered pedagogy. Here at MOOC provider critically examined on learner interest to learning on a task. Then provider decorates the teaching learning process accordingly. That’s why learner is more motivated to learn the task comfortably
2. Select Learners’ Interest Topic:  Here MOOC provider chooses the topic which is learners’ interest area. They are known which more needed providing skill is in present time. That’s why they provide some interesting area which make more popular by students.
3. Value Oriented:  Here provide value oriented teaching learning material which is one of the needed characteristic for a student.
4. Language is no Barrier Here:  Providers are use students’ centered teaching language. That’s why students are more motivated to learn.
5. Globally Use: Hence it is based on online pedagogy that’s why it is more easy to use globally.
6. Any time Anywhere: Here is no limitation of time place. People can learn in their free time and in anywhere.
7. Learning is so Enjoyable:  Here MOOC providers deliver their teaching with peoples’ interest area. So people can learn easily and effectively.

B. Can MOOCs be used as an Alternative to Traditional Education?

MOOCs are very useful in present time. It can be used to facilitate attractive courses for all learners. And also provide normal course for those who are no afforded traditional classroom teaching- learning. Here provide all facilities and activities of formal classroom teaching-learning. In India here people have diverse need and diverse work environment they have that’s why the only alternative to provide education to all learner which is MOOCs.

In MOOCs here provide quality material, effective teaching by specialist, discussion session, weekly mock test and effective evaluation technique. A study conducted by Dillahunt, et al, (2013) they find that those people are not engaged in any formal course they are more motivated, more engagement and performance and a  higher rate of completing courses with certificates of distinction. That’s why we can say that not an alternative to formal education but MOOCs is very useful better than a traditional teaching learning.

C. What are the Special Roles of MOOCs in Higher Education?

Now in higher education MOOCs have a special role for interested people.

1. Free Platform: MOOCs is a free platform for all candidates’. Here people can learn, download material and save the material for further use. So here is no conversation with learners and paying money.
2. Access for All:  It can access any candidate by their choice. Here need no special criteria to access. So people can learn freely.
3. Professional Development: For better work in his/her profession people can join in MOOCs. He/she gain knowledge here and implement their area of study. That’s why MOOCs can help a professional for their professional development.
4. Provide New Courses:  In MOOCs every time here provide something new something exceptional course, which is not provide in normal higher education institution.

D. What are the Benefits of MOOCs?

1. Offer diverse course by best universities.
2. Free content & lecture can access.
3. Infrastructures are not required.
4. Diverse audience can access the course by their diverse need.
5. Evaluate learner performance by data captured.

E. What are the Disadvantages of MOOCs?

1. Absence of physical classroom.
2. Absence of teacher physical interaction.
3. Here individual attention by the teacher is absent.
4. In remote area where internet connection is week where it is a big problem.
5. Most courses are provided by English that’s why language is one of the barriers.
6. To assessment the students is difficult.
7. Interaction with teacher and other students is less.

Conclusion

On the bases of above discussion we can say the MOOCs is one of the biggest platform of learning in present time. Here people can learn with effectively, any time any where bases. Here the total learning activity is based of people interest. If they willing to learn they can learn if the not agree to learn they are not learn. So it can be said that it is a user friendly, innovative, online platform.

References

Aydin, I, E., & Yazici, M. (2020). Drop-out in moocs. quantitative research method, The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 19(3), 9-17. Banwari, V. (2018). Role of MOOCs in Indian Higher Education, Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research, 5(12), 402-408. Chen, J, C, C. (2013). Opportunities and Challenges of MOOCS: Perspectives from Asia, Ifla Wlic 2013 Singapore, may 31. Devgun, P. (2013). Prospects for Success of MOOC in Higher Education in India, International Journal of Information and Computation Technology.3,(641-646). Huah, L and Goh. (2017). The Effectiveness And Challenges Of MOOC For Learning, Asia Pacific Journal of Contemporary Education and Communication Technology (APJCECT), 3(1), 41-54. Khalil, M., Taraghi, B., & Ebner, M. (2016). Engaging Learning Analytics In Moocs: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly, International Conference on Education and New Developments 2016. Pouezevara, S.R. and Horn, L.J. (2016). MOOCs and Online Education: Exploring the Potential for International Educational Development. RTI Press Publication No. OP-0029-1603. Research Triangle Park, NC: RTI Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.3768/ rtipress.2016.op.0029.1603. Sahoo, P, K,. Sahoo, N and Devi, U(2019), A Study of Higher Education Students Awareness of MOOC (SWAYAM) Programme and Usefulness of a Teacher Education Course offered through SWAYAM.Type equation here. Yuan, L and Powell, S(2013). MOOCs and Open Education: Implications for Higher Education. http://publications.cetis.ac.uk/2013/667, Ex post facto design of research, commonwealth of learning, Pan-Commonwealth Forum 9 (PCF9), 2019 [215]. file:///D:/mooc%20literature%20review/214472543.pdf.

Copyright

Copyright © 2022 Mr. Akash Roy, Dr. Pranab Barman. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.