MOOCs - A Special Issue from Campus Technology Magazine

Campus Technology has a special issue on MOOCs (massively open online courses) in the August issue.  It will surely complement the special issue on MOOCs from JOLT (Journal of Online Learning and Teaching) that I expect to be published any day. 

The first article, What do Massively Open Online Courses Mean for Higher Ed, by John Waters is extremely well written.  The second article, MOOC it Up as You Go, by David Raths discusses the business model for MOOCs.  One of the examples is the computer science masters degree offered by Georgia Tech for $7000 vs a campus version for $40,000.  You do the math.  If you have massive enrollment of students at $7000 each...

In essence, higher education is immersed in a storm of changes, partly spurred by costs and the need for innovation to fix broken education models.  As of now, the turmoil in higher education provides an interesting ride...

The August issue of Campus Technology  is a "must read" by administrators, faculty and students.  Look for the special issue in JOLT on the same topic- coming soon.

2013 Horizon Report Available

The 2013 Horizon Report from New Media Consortium (NMC) and Educause was just released.  You can download it from http://www.nmc.org/publications/2013-horizon-report-higher-ed . The visionary report reviews changes in technology that we can expect over the next 1-5 years.  The topics discussed are:

• 1 year or less time 
• Massively open online courses (MOOCs)  There will be a special issue of JOLT on MOOCs
• Tablet computing
• 2-3 years
• Game and gamification (application of game mechanics, such as Foursquare) based learning
• Learning analytics
• 4-5 years
• 3-D printing
• Wearable technology

The Horizon Report is always an exciting read!

MOOCS - Minnesota Changes Stance and Now Allows

In a recent blog, I noted a call for papers for a JOLT issue on MOOCS.  It also included a controversial stand by Minnesota higher education banning MOOCS.   An email this morning provided an update that I missed from October 20 The Chronicle article.  The backlash centered around right to freedom of speech and a 20-year old law that required universities to register with the state and pay a $1000 fee (to provide free courses?).

The BIG controversy prompted officials in higher education to change their minds about the ban on MOOCS.

The article is online at http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/facing-backlash-minnesota-decides-to-allow-free-online-courses-after-all/40588

MOOCS - JOLT Call for Papers and Controversy from Minnesota Outlawing MOOCS

There is a call for papers for  MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching (JOLT).  Have copied the information below.

The MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching (JOLT at http://jolt.merlot.org/) has just released a Call for Papers for a special issue on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), to be published in Summer (June) 2013. The Guest Editors of the special issue are George Siemens (Athabasca University), Valerie Irvine (University of Victoria), and  Jillianne Code (University of Victoria).

Proposals in the form of extended abstracts (500 words) are due on November 15, 2012, with full manuscripts due on January 31, 2013.

The full Call for Papers is available at the following URL:

http://jolt.merlot.org/jolt_moocs_cfp.pdf

Conversely, the state of Minnesota does not allow for the use of MOOCS in education.   

Read the Washington Post article outlining the details at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/college-inc/post/is-minnesota-cracking-down-on-moocs/2012/10/19/aecde79e-1a18-11e2-aa6f-3b636fecb829_blog.html 

There is an interesting editorial online at http://www.mndaily.com/2012/10/22/moocs-will-never-replace-traditional-higher-ed