MASSIVE ONLINE COURSES (MOOCS) AND THEIR ROLE IN THE DIGITALIZED ERA

Abstract

MOOC, “Massive Open Online Course” is a term coined in 2008 by George Siemens and Stephen Downes after carrying out the online course CCK08 (Fini, 2009) that succeeded a number of previously successful OOCs (Fini et al., 2008). They have emerged, challenging existing methods and approaches and were developed from the traditions of distance and self-access learning. Their structure was inspired by the philosophy of connectivism, and the implementation requires conceptual changes in perspective from both “facilitators” (tutors) and learners.