How Can Massive Open Online Courses Become Socially Contagious

Having just finished up the second round of ELT-Techniques on Jason R. Levine’s ELT MOOC in 2013, I feel it’s time to share some honest insights about the experience before we step into another New Year where all of us will be re-examining goals, priorities and values at work. 
The thing that struck me most about the ELT MOOC is the same phenomenon I noticed when I was socially active in teaching and inspiring students and teachers directly on Facebook. The phenomenon can be described as social contagion. MOOCs are not just about expertise and tech-savvy geekdom. They are more about sociability, humanism and connectivity in all its connotations. If we experience MOOCS from a focused, yet social perspective, then we just know that MOOCS can be natural, fun, inspiring, influential forms of learning and sharing. More...