On October 3rd 2017 I will present a keynote at Pushing the Boundaries of Higher Education: challenging traditional models with innovative and creative practices, which will take place in Barcelona. The keynotes include Terry Anderson, Tony Bates, Yishay Mor, Rikke Toft, Philipp Schmidt, Jim Groom, Brian Lamb.
The event will address the challenges that current higher education models face and showcase innovative initiatives and practices that offer creative answers that can lead the way towards new educational futures. My presentation will highlight issues discussed in my forthcoming book with Nina Hood which will be published by Springer next year: Reconceptualising Learning in the Digital Age: the [un]democtratising potential of MOOCs.
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have been signalled as being designed to disrupt and democratise education through opening access for millions of learners worldwide. In the presentation I will examine these claims, identifying tensions. MOOCs are positioned as democratising but they appear to advantage the elite, rather than act as an equaliser. The are viewed as a disruptor but they tend to reproduce formal education, rather than disrupt it. MOOCs are designed for those who can learn, rather than opening access for all. FInally MOOCs they are measured by metrics that may not be appropriate for open, distance education. These tensions are analysed and potential ways forward are sketched out.
You can join the conversation by adding your comments to the position papers that I and all the presenters published or check #PushingHE.
If you are unable to attend the physical event, there are several ways you can still participate:
- Watching the presentations live: the event will be web-streamed.
- Following the Twitter backchannel #PushingHE
- Participating in the Q&A session by sending in your questions for the presenters in Twitter using #PushingHE
- Joining the Virtually Connecting session with the presenters (details on the event’s website)