What is a MOOC? A Guide to Online Education
It’s easy to see why MOOCs are growing in popularity. They give people from all around the world a chance to learn and teach exciting topics. Whether you want to learn or you have some information to share, consider opening your world up to MOOCs.
If you’ve been online at all recently, you have probably seen people talking about Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs. These courses are still relatively new to the online world, but they are growing in popularity every day. Once you learn more about them, you’ll know if you should take one, or if you should run one in order to make some money and spread your knowledge. Either way, MOOCs are an exciting addition to the online education sector.
What is a MOOC?
As the name suggests, a MOOC is a massive online course. The course is delivered online and there isn’t a limit to the number of people who can attend it. One person can sign up for the course, or 100,000 people can sign up for it. Because of that, people from all over the world might attend the same MOOC. They all receive the same information since it’s delivered in an online format. That means you don’t have to worry about overcrowded classrooms with MOOCs. The format is designed to scale up and handle a large number of students.
Collaboration
MOOCs might be online, but that doesn’t mean you can’t collaborate with others. MOOC administrators come up with unique ways to encourage collaboration, including discussion boards, online forums, chats, and webinars. This gives everyone a chance to work together to come up with solutions and share their knowledge, which facilitates learning.
How Much Do They Cost?
Prices for MOOCs range from free for entry level options, to a few hundred dollars for comprehensive courses.
Why Should You Take a MOOC?
MOOCs give you a chance to expand your knowledge in an informal setting, and without spending a lot of money. You can learn web development, writing, and other important skills without leaving your house. If you want to learn but don’t have the time or money to take formal college courses, this can be a great option for you.
It’s easy to see why MOOCs are growing in popularity. They give people from all around the world a chance to learn and teach exciting topics. Whether you want to learn or you have some information to share, consider opening your world up to MOOCs.
If you're interested in joining any of the devCamp MOOCs, please feel free to check out our full course list that gets updated daily.
I've been a software engineer for the past decade and have traveled the world building applications and training individuals on a wide variety of topics.
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