What is a MOOC anyway? This abbreviation keeps coming up in further education. In today's article, we clarify all the important questions and show you what types of MOOCs exist:

MOOC: Definition of Terms

MOOC stands for “Massive Open Online Course.” The term is derived as follows:

• Massive = refers to the massive number of participants in the online course, often more than 100 participants.

• Open = means that the courses are often free of charge and without admission restrictions – thus “open” – offered.

• Online = states that the course only takes place online and therefore is independent of location and centrally accessible.

• Course = defines the course as a self-contained event with fixed start and end times.

This means: In general, MOOCs are online courses with very large numbers of participants, which usually take place over several weeks and are often completely free of charge. Originally, they were introduced at American universities to provide as many students as possible with knowledge in the form of videos, literature recommendations, or supplementary scripts.

MOOCs have their own advantages and disadvantages:

| Advantages of MOOCs | Disadvantages of MOOCs || ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- || For participants, mostly free of charge Takes place independently of location and relatively time-flexible Instructors can track the learning progress of their participants | Little individual participant support Relatively high dropout rate, as participation is not mandatory No uniform regulation for certificates |

Meanwhile, MOOCs are used in all possible areas and are therefore a good starting point to expand one's knowledge. Some companies also have MOOCs that aim to answer all questions regarding the workplace. Over time, some differentiations have emerged, such as: cMOOC, xMOOC, bMOOC, and smMOOC.

Conclusion: Massive Open Online Course in Practice

MOOCs can look quite different and be used for all possible areas. In principle, MOOCs are best suited for large institutions such as universities that can support many participants at once.

Because the support of participants in MOOCs can only be minimal, most companies and smaller institutions opt for other course solutions: In closed online courses with fewer participants, individuals can be supported more individually, resulting in a higher success rate.

MOOC is just one of many abbreviations in the world of further education. You can already find the following definitions in our blog:

• Live Online Training

• Blended Learning

• E-Learning Methods

• LMS, LCMS, and LXP

Check out our other learning materials with free guides, checklists, and online courses.

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