Massive Open Online Courses: Concept and Implications

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are currently the buzz word in the field of e-learning. By definition, MOOCs are massive courses considering the number of participants enrolled across the globe per course, are open accessed, and are available online. MOOCs have evolved along the trajectory of correspondence courses, radio- and television-broadcasts, and e-learning. Though various taxonomies to classify MOCCs exit, two types - Connectivist Massive Open Online Course (cMOOC) and Extended Massive Open Online Course (xMOOC) have distinctly emerged. cMOOC promotes creativity and interaction among participants, while xMOOC is used merely for knowledge dispersion. With increased and unrestricted use of internet, and with ease of developing new online platforms, MOOCs are proving to be an evolutionary phenomenon. Many universities and institutes of higher learning are using MOOCs for knowledge dispersion and skill development. Their role in faculty development, capacity and capability building in medical education arena is unequivocal. Potential of MOOCs can be well-tapped for conduct of continuing medical education programs, and programs for improving soft-skills and research skills in medical field for faculty development. This review details the concepts of MOOCs and their application in education field, particularly in medical education, and feasibility of developing MOOCs in India.