Ever since massive open online courses (MOOCs) started in 2008, we have
witnessed six exciting years in the world of education. A new education
landscape has come into being and the time has come to take a closer look
at its defining features. This book presents some straightforward keys to
understanding the MOOC movement. We aim at providing readers with a
clear and precise contextual framework for building and spreading open
knowledge. We wanted to avoid a glorified picture of MOOCs; as usual
when innovations captivate the educational and global academic worlds,
initial fever has given way to controversies that we did not want to leave
unanswered. Readers will therefore be exposed to the pros and cons of
the movement, enabling them to form their own educated opinion about
the free and massive principles applying to general and Higher Education.
If you google the MOOC acronym, you?ll obtain more than 2 billion
search results including articles, blogs, news, forums, databases ... This
amount of data is difficult to apprehend. Here, in 25,000 words, we put
you on the main tracks to start your MOOC journey. We have tried to
clear the way, place sign-posts and direct the MOOC-hiker on a course,
free of initial obstacles. Fetch your torch and bag, and when you?ve finished
reading, head ?To infinity...and beyond!? (Toy Story).