The document discusses some of the challenges and debates around massive open online courses (MOOCs). It questions whether MOOCs are a revolutionary innovation in education or just a repackaging of existing teaching methods. Some of the challenges mentioned include defining what a MOOC is, determining motivations for their creation, assessing their potential for disruption or innovation in higher education, issues of participation and inclusion, and whether comparisons between MOOCs and traditional teaching are "apples to apples." The document raises questions about evaluating MOOCs' pedagogical impact and what higher education may look like after their introduction.

1. Know Your Product
Are MOOCs the
pedagogical Messiah
or just a very naughty
boy?
Peter Bryant
London School of Economics
@peterbryantHE

2. What is innovative
about MOOC
pedagogy?

3. What is a
MOOC?

4. The challenge of definition
‘I am now quite certain that the term MOOC is
as well defined and understood as the 'Boogie
Monster'
1

6. The challenge of motivation
Are MOOCs the goldrush of HE?
A whole lot of people panning in the creek
because everyone else is, in the hope that in
them there creek there be gold?
2

7. The challenge of disruption
“The Napster moment for higher education“
Martin Bean
Open University
3

8. The challenge of participation
a. You are either in or you are out…
b. What happens if you can’t get in or are not
let in?
4

9. The challenge of innovation
Are MOOCs learning 2.0 or just another
attempt to re-package what we have already
have produced, effectively the McDonalds
Happy Meal of higher education, the same
burger, fries and Coke that we have been
served up consistently and efficiently for
decades, just with a different plastic toy and a
newer, funkier box?
5

10. In evaluating pedagogical innovation, are we comparing apples and apples?

11. Looking at the post-MOOC world

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@PeterBryantHE
p.j.bryant@lse.ac.uk – For the full paper, see my blog http://www.peterbryant.org