MOOCs

The implications for MOOCs in a global learning context are huge. Getting people who are interested in a specific topic from all over the world, concentrating, creating and learning together. Just imagining the potential of that is massive - leaders in fields, teachers, mentors, those working in the field, people just interested in the subject or studying the subject at a higher level - it combines them all and what they have the potential to create is really limitless! It would be such an interesting experience, including so many different perspectives together, creating non-linear content and having that content available across the web.

It has the capacity for anyone, in any geographical location, profession, for those stay-at-home mums, students, or even people who are just interested in learning more to be connected and to learn about any topic. For those in less developed or underprivileged areas, this also has a huge impact. So long as they have access to the internet and access to a computer or mobile device, they are able to be connected to this learning. It helps to solve some of the barriers to learning for them - money for textbooks, study guides, some programs and more.

MOOCs for my context are a very interesting idea. I think the main problem, and that of many aspects of e-learning - that people simply don't know it exists, or even if they do, where to look for it. It's a lot harder to sign up for a course online, when you don't know any of the people, don't know what to expect and don't have as many technical skills as many younger people do.

I think as we move forward, and online learning, in particular MOOCs become more commonplace, more common and more understood, that will help. As the younger generation of digital natives gets older, they may bring more acceptance to the world of MOOCs. Being brought up with technology, they'll be aware of how to use it, more inclined to try new things, and want to find out more. This will also start to affect the workplace - in the future they may be far more common there too.

So in the future, there's a good possibility that they will be more widely accepted. For now, the best thing to do it to get content out there, get people learning about it, how it works, the benefits of it and encourage them to try something new.