What is a MOOC anyway? In continuing education, this abbreviation keeps coming up. In today's article, we clarify all important questions and show you what types of MOOCs exist:
MOOC: Definition
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 = indicates that the course takes place solely online, making it location-independent and centrally accessible.
Course = defines the course as a self-contained event with a fixed start and end time.
This means: Generally, MOOCs are online courses with very large participant numbers, usually taking place over several weeks and often completely free of charge. They were originally introduced at American universities to provide as many students as possible with knowledge in the form of videos, literature recommendations, or supplementary scripts.
MOOCs come with their own advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages of MOOCs | Disadvantages of MOOCs |
Usually free for participants Take place in a location-independent and relatively time-flexible manner Course leaders can track the learning progress of their participants | Little individual support for participants Relatively high dropout rate, as participation is not mandatory No uniform regulations for certificates upon completion |
Nowadays, MOOCs are used in all possible areas and are therefore a good starting point for expanding one's knowledge. There are also MOOCs in some companies that aim to answer all questions regarding one's own workplace. Over time, some differentiations have also formed, such as: cMOOC, xMOOC, bMOOC, and smMOOC.
Conclusion: Massive Open Online Course in Practice
MOOCs can take very different forms and be used in various fields. In principle, MOOCs are best suited for large institutions like universities that can support many course participants at once.
As the support for 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 personally, resulting in a higher success rate.
MOOC is just one of many abbreviations in the world of continuing education. The following definitions can already be found in our blog:
Live Online Training
Blended Learning
E-Learning Methods
LMS, LCMS, and LXP
Check out our additional learning materials with free guides, checklists, and online courses now.
