Conflicting narratives in higher education policy Maureen W. McClure, University of Pittsburgh 1

Conflicting Narratives MOOC narratives run in divergent directions based on different foundational understandings of their purposes. (Innovation is increasingly global) Peer Learning (cMOOCs) - Simultaneous, Knowledge Creation Expert Teaching ( xMOOCs) – “Generational,” Knowledge Sharing Noblesse Oblige Democratic Empowerment Self-Organized Learning Institutional Sustainability 2

INTERRUPED COMMUNICATIONS This Graphic Arts Biennial exhibit in Tivoli Park shows lines of poetry in English, Slovenian and sign language. The blurred image shows the confusion that arises across translations. 3

MOOCS UNHINGED 4

GARTNER HYPE CYCLE 5

ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS PERSIST 6

LURKERS AREN’T ALL THE SAME LURKERS AREN’T ALL THE SAME 7

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MOOCs For Institutional Sustainability Peer Learning and Expert Teaching in HE need different balances of institutional support, but both require recurrent funding. MOOCs are not monolithic. They are shaped by their assigned positions within institutions. Economic positions are also political choices. Cost Centers 9

Political Production: Profit /Cost Centers We see ourselves as Profit Centers (Production) HEIs as Growth Driver Direct contributions Investment + return More likely to be funded Others see us as Cost Centers (Consumption) HEIs as Service Delivery Indirect contributions Accountability + compliance More likely to be cut 10

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MOOCs as Innovation and Marketing Centers “Marketing and innovation produce results: all the rest are costs.” (Drucker) HEIs are innovation centers. They create ideas. They are also marketing centers because they directly connect innovation to learners. MOOCs may better link HEI innovation and learning …but be careful…a dangerous game…it opens the game to new players 12

Follow Up With  The Maturing of the MOOC: Literature review of Massive Open Online Courses and other Forms of Online and Distance Learning’ - UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills  Revisit SPOC niches (Small Private Online Courses)  Links to both political and economic development policy issues (e.g. skills gap, jobs war, generational quality)  Wikipedia, Google Trends 13

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QUESTIONS FOR YOU What are you hearing about MOOCs? Costs to be controlled or Investments in the future? What is missing from the conversations about MOOCs that you are hearing? 16