Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)

                                                                                         

           A massive open online course (MOOC ) is an online course aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the web.  In addition to traditional course materials such as filmed lectures, readings, and problem sets,  many MOOCs provide interactive user forums to support community interactions between students, professors and teaching assistants  (TAs). The term MOOC was coined in 2008 by Dave Cormier of the  University of Prince Edward Island.  A course billed as Asia's first MOOC given by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology through Coursera starting in April 2013 registered 17,000 students. In July 2015, Open Classrooms, jointly with IESA Multimedia launches first MOOC-based Bachelor degree in multimedia project management, recognized by French state.

              MOOC is especially for the aspiring learners according to their needs, knowledge and skill to enhance the professional and personal academic growth. The course materials are all provided online, course transactions and evaluations are made possible through online. The course activities include watching video presentations, discussions, peer reviews, summarizing the learning contents etc. The advantage is that it allows the participants to learn at one’s own pace and has the freedom to choose the study materials.

          Many IITs and IIMs provide MOOCs to improve and enhance the professional development of teachers and students. One of the best universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford University, University of Edinburgh, provides online courses for aspirants across the world.          

         Universities and other institutions worldwide partner with external providers, the largest including US-based Coursera, Udemy, Udacity, and EdX, and Australian MOOEC. Some providers specialise in particular areas of study. Coursera’s features 500+ courses, from more than 100 partners worldwide, including  Duke University in the US,  Peking University (China) and the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.   Udemy offers free and paid-for courses, many from non-academic instructors. Udacity focuses on free courses, categorised into beginner, intermediate and advanced-level. Students may also enrol in a number of paid-for courses in order to gain California State University system credits. Recently Udacity announced a partnership with  Georgia Institute of Technology and AT&T to provide a Master of Science in Computer Science MOOC course at a cost of $6,600. EdX is a not-for-profit provider, created by Harvard  and MIT  (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) universities. MOOEC launched in November 2013, offers free courses and lessons in English supported by Pier online, the University of Queensland ITCE,   Griffith University GELI,Queenland University of Technology,  Goldcoast TAFE and many non-government provider. The courses offer English language learning all levels.  Around the world, other MOOC providers include EduKart in India, ALISON in Ireland, and Aprentica in Latin America.

            The MHRD’s SWAYAM( Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) initiative envisages offering online courses to the citizens by faculty members of Centrally funded institutions. As per the proposal, the course will be offered free of cost to the learners. A nominal fee will be collected, if the learner requires a verifies certificate.

           University of Kerala has recently launched an online programme, one of its worth mentioning courses is on the subject "making powerful multimedia presentations." This course is especially concentrated on providing a platform for students who can improve their multimedia presentation skills. As per the university source, students will be provided with several multiple-choice questions (MCQs), lectures, PPT presentation, and assessment segment. It is widely accepted, the courses will have schemed in such a manner that it will enhance the presentation skills of those who have already acquired PowerPoint skills. Students will also be provided with 3 PPT slide of presentation on specific topics of their choice. Cochin University of Science and Technology brings awareness programs and online courses for various subjects to its students through this platform.

       MOOC has opened the doors to quality education. It can play an important role in imparting higher education as they provide equal access to everyone regardless of their socio-economic status, gender, age, cost affordability. Maximum learning takes place when the learning process is joyful and engaging.