Hi Carolyn
What is importance of MOOC to solve elearning complexities and limitations in university?
Are there specific reasons?
Many Thanks
One of the great advantages for universities in using MOOCs is their global reach. Rather than restricting an online course to a small group of learners, MOOCs provide an opportunity for networking and social/peer learning that the closed e-learning structure doesn't. It is also an opportunity for the university to promote their institution and provide a stepping stone to gain more campus enrolments.
On the flip side, instructors cannot provide the same level of support to learners in a MOOC that they can in a closed course.
In combining the two structures however, universities are increasingly using MOOCs in a blended learning format for their campus-based courses where the students are required to follow a MOOC module for example prior to classroom discussion on the topic. This frees up an instructors time who can then spend less time "lecturing" and more time engaged in constructive discussion and teaching in the classroom.
