MOOCs Now - by Susan Alman (Paperback)

About the Book

Learn from experts who have created and presented Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) that can reach a vast audience, and discover how to develop and present this new online form of continuing education.
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) have become popular with eager learners as well as some educators wanting to test the boundaries of learning. Understandably, many educators approach MOOCs with trepidation and a number of questions. Are MOOCs simply a fad? Does this new venue threaten traditional higher education models? How are teachers to be remunerated for their efforts? And what can be done about student retention in an anonymous venue of a MOOC?

This book answers these questions and many more, offering a practical and realistic guide to MOOCs--one that will help anyone involved in higher education to better understand MOOCs and enable them to make decisions about whether and how to offer MOOCs. The authors address topics such as the various costs of offering a MOOC (teachers, developers, licensing, and software), explain accessibility options, examine the challenges of copyright and the administration required, and explore what the librarian's role should be. This insightful guide also explains your options for the presentation of text, video, and audio content; whether to give assignments or tests; and how to decide whether you should offer your MOOC for free or require a fee and offer a certificate upon course completion.

• Covers the phenomenon of MOOCs from the perspective of veteran librarians--the first book to do so
• Offers in-depth understanding and practical guidance to those considering offering MOOCs
• Identifies the pitfalls to avoid and outcomes to pursue with this fast-growing trend in educational technology and online learning
• Presents balanced coverage of the subject that provides readers with the pros as well as the cons in considering a MOOC

Book Synopsis

Learn from experts who have created and presented Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) that can reach a vast audience, and discover how to develop and present this new online form of continuing education.

MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) have become popular with eager learners as well as some educators wanting to test the boundaries of learning. Understandably, many educators approach MOOCs with trepidation and a number of questions. Are MOOCs simply a fad? Does this new venue threaten traditional higher education models? How are teachers to be remunerated for their efforts? And what can be done about student retention in an anonymous venue of a MOOC?

This book answers these questions and many more, offering a practical and realistic guide to MOOCs--one that will help anyone involved in higher education to better understand MOOCs and enable them to make decisions about whether and how to offer MOOCs. The authors address topics such as the various costs of offering a MOOC (teachers, developers, licensing, and software), explain accessibility options, examine the challenges of copyright and the administration required, and explore what the librarian's role should be. This insightful guide also explains your options for the presentation of text, video, and audio content; whether to give assignments or tests; and how to decide whether you should offer your MOOC for free or require a fee and offer a certificate upon course completion.

About the Author

Susan W. Alman, lecturer at San Jose State University, was formerly director of the online education program at the School of Information Sciences, University of Pittsburgh.

Jennifer Jumba, MLIS, works at Cuyahoga County Public Library in Ohio, where she specializes in adult reference.