MRI Conference Summary

The MOOC Research Initiative conference in Arlington, Texas was held in early December. The event was memorable – and not only for the ice storm that stranded many attendees. The quality of research being conducted by MRI grantees in open learning (MOOCs specifically) is impressive. Personally, an important take away from the conference was the sophistication of research and the stark contrast with the hype-filled media view of MOOCs. While prominent media promotes grand narratives of MOOCs as disruptive, transformative, and sure to end the current model of higher education, MRI grantees, keynote speakers, and panels offered a vision of MOOCs as supplementing and enlarging the role of the university. Generally, presentations were informative, thoughtful, and indicate that a strong foundation is being built for future research around MOOCs, openness in education, learning at scale, and emerging pedagogies. Prominent during the conference was the recognition that educators need to start thinking about “what happens after MOOCs”. No clear consensus arose from the conversations that I participated in, but the general tone was one of expecting higher education to continue subsuming MOOCs under umbrellas of marketing and recruitment, alumni outreach, online/blended learning, and broadening the role of universities in a knowledge economy. Read more...