Designing/Integrating Sophisticated E-Learning Technologies in MOOCs

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Designing MOOCs
A White Paper on Instructional Design
for MOOCs
By
Preeti Jasnani
Principal Learning Designer at Tata Interactive Systems

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Abstract:
The year 2012 saw a“massive”boom in the higher education world,making
MOOCs—Massive Open Online Courses—the new buzzword.From talks by
educators in ed-tech conferences and forums to media reporting and micro
blogging by thought leaders,just about everyone connected to the world of
higher education has been talking about MOOCs since then.
And rightly so.Hyped or not,MOOCs are bringing about a revolution in
education,a thought affirmed by forerunners like Andrew Ng,Director,
Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab and Co-Founder of Coursera,who says …
“When one professor can teach 50,000 people,it alters the economics
of education.”
- Andrew Ng,
Director,Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab and Co-Founder of Coursera
Indeed.So,if MOOCs are going to disrupt traditional education,then shouldn’t
there be some deeper thinking around their design and development?
Although the content is drawn up by subject matter experts (faculty),just how
much thought is given to pedagogical and instructional design issues? Are
MOOCs even reviewed for quality before they go public?
Not all MOOCs—especially the ones that are informal—probably need to go
through a thorough and formal cycle of review for conformance to quality.
However,if a university is considering offering MOOCs as part of their formal
curriculum,would it then not be worthwhile to develop a pedagogy that is
unique to the institute and that delivers a quality product to their learners,
even if it does so free of cost?
This white paper draws attention to some of the design and quality aspects
of MOOCs and goes on to propose an instructional design philosophy that
integrates sophisticated e-learning technologies (interactive content,games,
simulations,story-based approach et al) to enhance the design of MOOCs and
take them a notch higher in terms of learner engagement.

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Given the buzz around them,this white paper assumes that the readers from
higher education are familiar with the basic definition of a MOOC. The white
paper,therefore,starts off with only a brief introduction to the different types
of MOOCs,more so to differentiate the more popular xMOOCs from the
original cMOOCs.Thereafter,the paper remains focused on design and quality
aspects of MOOCs.
In the end,a critical question—whether every university should offer its
own MOOC—is raised.A question that can be answered best by the specific
institute; the paper,however,presents some thoughts from articles and posts
on this specific question,and then goes on to explore possible business
models and partnerships a university can get into for developing a unique
MOOC that could,in fact,become a signature course for the university.
About Preeti Jasnani:
With 18+ years of experience across design,academia,training,and
technology,Preeti brings in instructional design expertise to higher-ed
learning solutions engagements.In her role as a Learning Designer and
Consultant at Tata Interactive Systems,she works with universities to
understand their unique education process and maps the university-specific
business and technology requirements to relevant instructional strategies and
latest technologies with a focus on student success and feasibility.For more
than a decade now,she’s been designing and delivering pedagogically robust
solutions with a blend of instructional components well suited to meet learner
preferences in an online environment.
About Tata Interactive Systems:
Tata Interactive Systems (TIS),a division of TATA Industries Limited,is an
acknowledged global leader in the e-learning industry.As part of the Tata
group,TIS has an international presence and offers diversified and innovative
bouquets of learning and training solutions to corporations,universities,
schools,publishers,and government institutions across the US,Canada,the
UK,Australia,New Zealand,the Middle East,India,and mainland Europe.Our
offerings range from Web-based Training,Instructor-led Training to Simulation-
based Learning Objects (SimBLs®),Story-based Learning Objects (StoBLs),
Courseware and Curriculum Design,Special-needs Education,Assessments,
Electronic Performance Support Systems (EPSS),Mobile Learning,and Game-
based Learning along with other Corporate Training and Consultancy Services.

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Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 5
What’s With This xMOOC-cMOOC Jargon? ................................................. 9
Components of a MOOC .................................................................................... 11
Designing MOOCs:Some Considerations .................................................... 12
Design Strategy for MOOCs .............................................................................. 17
Instructional Design Philosophy for MOOCs .............................................. 17
Integrating Sophisticated E-Learning Technologies in MOOCs ........... 20
MOOCs:Course Structure and Flow ............................................................... 23
Designing MOOCs – An Example .................................................................... 24
The Proposed Design Approach .................................................................. 24
The Solution at a Glance ................................................................................. 25
Course Structure and Flow ........................................................................... 26
Should Every University Offer a MOOC? ....................................................... 28
References ............................................................................................................... 31
Appendix .................................................................................................................. 32
John Ebersole’s Taxonomy of MOOCs ........................................................ 32
About Learning Nuggets ................................................................................ 33
About Story-Based Learning ......................................................................... 34
About Simulations ............................................................................................ 34
About Game-Based Learning ........................................................................ 35
About 3D Animations and Virtual Worlds ................................................ 35

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Introduction
The summer of 2011 saw a free artificial intelligence course being offered by
Stanford University and the academic world woke up to a phenomenon that is
since then moving at breakneck speed.In a decade when the need of the hour
for academic institutions is to expand their reach,MOOCs have managed to
get their timing right.
MOOCs are impacting higher education,and the“MOOCs rising”infographic
from an article by Nature News emphasizes this well.The stats that read:328
different courses,62 universities,220 countries,2.9 million registered users,
speak volumes of the impact MOOCs are having on higher education.
Impact on Higher Education – Reference Image: “MOOCs Rising”by Nature News

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In less than 2 years,MOOCs have already had a journey—from free online
video lectures to integrating multiple-choice questions and online discussion
forums to hosting these courses on a platform that allows students to review
and grade each other.
However,in spite of their impressive enrollment figures,MOOCs have yet to
produce equally impressive completion rates.An excerpt from a recent article,
titled“Coursera Takes a Nuanced View of MOOC Dropout Rates”from The
Chronicle reads …
“Although millions of students have registered for courses through
Coursera,the company and its university partners have awarded only
280,000 certificates of completion.In general,the rate of completion in
MOOCs is believed to be around 10 percent.”
- Coursera Takes a Nuanced View of MOOC Dropout Rates
The Chronicle
Educational researcher Katy Jordan also compiled a Visualization of MOOC
Completion Rates using publicly available data.Her research indicates an
average 50,000 enrollments in MOOCs,with the typical completion rate of
below 10%,approximately 7.5%,that amounts to 3,700 completions per
50,000 enrollments.
What are the reasons for the low completion rates? Is the MOOC format (i.e.
design) the major contributor to the low rates? One online survey lists down
the top 10 reasons for the low completion rates,and lecture fatigue and poor
course design figure at numbers 4 and 5 respectively in this list.Interestingly,
the article from The Chronicle goes on to state that Coursera does not
attribute the low completion rates to the MOOC format.
In response to this burning question about low completion rates,John
Ebersole,President of Excelsior College,states the following reasons …

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“In my opinion there are multiple reasons for the low completion rates
(under 10%) of MOOCs.
a. The participant is not truly interested in the topic but wants to see
what all the hoopla is about.
b. With no psychological or financial investment,it is easy for the
participant to become engaged in other activities/interests.
c. Work is too hard for the participant’s level of preparation.
d. Participant is fatigued by the lack of instructional diversity and the
absence of any meaningful engagement with either the instructor
or the material. Methodology feels more like a classroom lecture on
steroids with all interaction taking place,or not,with peers.
Instructional design that provides for opportunity to engage with
materials (not just the other learners) would allow for both deeper
understanding and self-assessment of progress. Experience has shown
that early student‘wins’are important to persistence. Difficulty at the
start creates frustration and self doubt. There needs to be feedback
from the‘course,’if not the instructor.”
- John Ebersole
President,Excelsior College,Albany,New York
Likewise,in his post What’s the“problem”with MOOCs,Doug Holton from the
Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University also emphasizes on the lack of professional instructional design for
MOOCs.He says …
“Especially disturbing is that none of the major MOOC providers have
hired anyone trained in instructional design,the learning sciences,
educational technology,course design,or other educational specialties
to help with the design of their courses.”
- Doug Holton
Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence,Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Surely some more data is required but that instructional design and,therefore,
quality of MOOCs are concerns and may be significant contributors to the
worrisome low completion rates cannot be denied.

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So,now the question is—if a university decides to offer MOOCs,should they
not be concerned about having a robust framework that will help them build
an instructionally sound solution and provide an implementation strategy that
best suits the requirements of the university and their students?
Given that MOOCs are literally mushrooming these days,it is highly likely
that soon students will have multitude options to choose from.Learner
engagement,robust pedagogy,and efficient implementation would then
become important criteria for a MOOC to stand the test of time.
However,the more important question is—should every university offer a
MOOC?

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What’s With This xMOOC-cMOOC Jargon?
The author of this paper first participated in a MOOC sometime in mid-2011,
in a course called Change 11,facilitated by Dave Cormier (of the University of
Prince Edward Island),George Siemens (of Athabasca University),and Stephen
Downes (of the National Research Council,Canada),who are believed to be
pioneers of MOOCs in the true sense of the term.At the time of writing this
paper,the Change 11 course is still active.However,the author considers
herself nearly but not really a dropout more so because of the design of the
original MOOCs that are based on the connectivist theory and have,after
the 2012 boom,eventually got categorized as cMOOCs—the“c”referring to
connectivism.
The more popular MOOCs,now called xMOOCs,are the ones offered by
companies like Coursera,Udacity,and edX and are based on behavioral/
cognitivist learning (Mak 2012). At the time of writing,the author is enrolled in
the Model Thinking course by Scott E.Page (University of Michigan) offered on
Coursera.
So,what’s with this xMOOC-cMOOC jargon?
cMOOC
Social networked learning
Non-linear, chaotic
Individualized learning
Distributed knowledge
Scalable network
Comparatively more learner action
xMOOC
Traditional approach
Linear, straightforward
Mastery of concepts
Centralized repository
May not be scalable
Comparatively less learner action
cMOOCs vs.xMOOCs
cMOOCs,as explained by George Siemens (MOOCs are really a platform,July
25,2012) emphasize social networked learning.The learning experience (and
the author can confirm this by way of participating in the Change 11 course)
is chaotic.This very nature of a cMOOC distinguishes it from an xMOOC,which
uses the more traditional approach of learning via video lectures followed by
short quizzes,assignments,and tests.
In a cMOOC,knowledge is open and is generated as participants progress
through the course. Learners contribute to the generation of this knowledge
via blogs,articles,images,videos et al.Although,cMOOCs have defined

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learning outcomes,course readings,and a weekly schedule to follow,the
learning experience,as mentioned earlier,can get chaotic and messy.Learners
are free to explore and go beyond the scope.Consequently,learners end up
treading on their individual paths,making their own sense of the distributed
knowledge,and may even end up with unique takeaways.
xMOOCs,on the other hand,are more formal and quite straightforward in their
approach.They are,for most part,linear; although in some courses,the content
maybe organized such that learners don’t necessarily have to go through the
previous weeks’material in order to follow the current week.For instance,in
the Model Thinking course,the professor clarifies in his introductory video that
this course is like“a trip to the zoo,”and so if you miss going through a specific
topic,you’d still follow the others.
Students in xMOOCs are expected to go through the assigned readings and
video lectures for each unit (or section) and then attempt quizzes and/or
assignments.Although,some real-time content and knowledge generation
happens in the discussion forums and via assignments and peer feedback,
the xMOOCs are not driven by learner-generated content.The xMOOCs,by no
means,are totally passive,but there is clearly more learner action in cMOOCs.
Teacher-learner relationship in an xMOOC is mostly traditional and the priority
of the learner is to master concepts taught to them,although nothing stops
them from going beyond and sharing experiences.On the other hand,learners
in cMOOCs are expected to generate their own content,expand the scope,and
collaborate and share experiences within and outside of the course arena.
xMOOCs have a centralized discussion forum support,whereas cMOOCs use
distributed blogs and learner-created spaces on the internet.

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Components of a MOOC
To summarize,MOOCs typically comprise the following:
Components of a MOOC
A syllabus that lists the
learning objectives and
defines the scope of the topics
and accompanied readings,
discussions, assignments, and
quizzes or tests. The syllabus
may also include a weekly
schedule especially for
discussions and assignment
submissions.
Then, there are readings and
video lectures. In an xMOOC,
these are mostly archived; in a
cMOOC, the facilitators either
give a presentation each week
or invite a guest lecturer. While
some of these presentations
may be recorded and made
available to the students, there
are quite a few that are
delivered in real time.
Centralized discussions forums (in xMOOCs) or
distributed open spaces (mostly blogs, wikis, Facebook pages, and Twitter
in the case of cMOOCs) is where most of the learner interaction happens.
Quizzes, assignments, and projects allow for self-evaluation and may,
in some cases, lead to certification.

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Designing MOOCs: Some Considerations
In the month of February 2013,Insider Higher Ed published an article titled
“MOOC Mess”reporting the crash of Coursera’s“Fundamentals of Online
Education:Planning and Application.”
Although technical glitches were reported to be behind the crash (mostly
the inability of the Google Docs server to handle the traffic),design-related
flaws were also pointed out in some blog posts (such as no clear instructions
for assignments,especially for the group activity that was responsible for the
crash).
Here’s an excerpt from a post about the course’s disastrous fall that featured
on the Online Learning Insights blog.
“The example here from the class,Fundamentals of Online Education:
Planning and Application demonstrates why a sound strategy is
needed,and what happens when one is lacking.MOOCs require a
unique instructional strategy,one that is different from small online
courses.”
- How NOT to Design a MOOC:The Disaster at Coursera and How to Fix it
Online Learning Insights
Precisely! Designing a MOOC is definitely different from designing an online
course that sits on an LMS and is accessed by not more than 20 students,on an
average.In a course that is“massive,” “open,”and“online,”due consideration
needs to be given to the technological platforms (and/or tools) students will
be using.One cannot,however,be sure if faculty—who are most likely working
on their own to put up this massively open and online course and who may
or may not have the requisite technical know-how or enough experience
teaching online—would be able to predict the technical glitches that could
hamper delivery of such a course.Even experienced instructional designers
are often not able to predict all technological anomalies and may end up
having high expectations in terms of technical feasibility from some of their
design recommendations.Technology is,by no means,limiting but requires
savoir-faire.
At most,the faculty would have been able to come up with a strategy that may
have helped them better manage such large groups in an online environment.
Furthermore,the need for clear instructions is an essential instructional design
requirement for all online courses,not just MOOCs.

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A review of discussions,blogs,and comments in different forums brings up
quite a few relevant questions related to the design of MOOCs.For instance,
Doug Holton,in his blogpost,asks …
“The question is,are MOOCs an example of imposing an existing world-
view (traditional instruction,courses,and instructors) on a new medium
for learning? Is it necessary for all the‘students’in a MOOC to be
learning the same topic at the same time (synchronous learning)? That
appears to be a common defining characteristic of all MOOCs. Does
there have to be a single,unchanging instructor? Does it have to be a
‘course’at all,with a finite beginning and end?”
- Doug Holton
Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence,Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Interesting! A few of the questions raised by Doug could possibly draw up
design considerations for instructional designers to keep in mind when
designing a MOOC.The author of this paper collated similar design-specific
questions from the internet and then tried to answer them as follows:
Relevant Questions Related to Design of MOOCs
Is a chaotic
learning
experience
good?
Should the
instructional
flow always be
linear?
What would
be an ideal
course
structure for
a MOOC?
Should MOOCs
include a
pre-assessment?
Would a
competency-
based
curriculum
work better?
How much
didactic
instruction
should be
included?
Should a
MOOC end
with the
course?
Can a MOOC run
without a facilitator?
If not, then should
multiple
facilitators be
assigned to a
MOOC?

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What would be an ideal course structure for a MOOC?
The overall structure and organization of content in a MOOC depends
substantially on the subject matter and how easy it is to chunk content into
smaller,modular units of learning [See Appendix:About Learning Nuggets].
Overall,granular courses are more digestible.Long pieces of lecture content
(in text or video format) may not sustain the learner’s interest.However,
granularity may not always guarantee effectiveness,which is an important
criterion for delivery of instruction.Granularity may also lead to overloading,
with having to manage numerous learning units.Therefore,from a usability
design perspective,due consideration should be given to how learners can
access these bite-sized learning units from a user-friendly menu.A simple
table of contents navigation format that runs into a long scrollable page may
not work.
Would a competency-based curriculum work better?
Current xMOOCs are mostly offered as individual courses and are based on the
Carnegie unit credit hour system,even though most don’t award certification.
The higher education world,however,is already buzzing about transitioning
to the competency-based education (CBE) system.Therefore,it is worth
considering designing future MOOCs around competencies,especially so if the
individual MOOCs are part of a curriculum that leads to a degree.Thus,each
competency (or a set of related competencies) will be like a mini course,and
there will not be an overarching course at all.A series of“can do”statements
will instead constitute the curriculum.The relevant instruction will be built
around each“can do”statement.
John Ebersole,however,has a different but very sound viewpoint.He says …
“While the spotlight is on all things competency related these days,
I wouldn’t feel compelled to use them in MOOCs. Instruction is not
usually a part of the competency determination process. Most often,
it involves the assessment of knowledge and skill gained through
other means. I DO think that focusing the MOOC’s design on achieving
desired outcomes is appropriate. Toward this end,it should provide
for self assessments along the way. The lack of valid forms of learning
outcome assessment is a major weakness of those MOOCs evaluated
to date.”
- John Ebersole

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Should the instructional flow always be linear?
Academic courses are mostly linear with the learning outcomes and content
spread across 8-12 weeks.A linear flow provides a standardized approach
to learning and aligns well with the credit hour system.If,on the other hand,
you want the journey of the learner to be personalized,then an amorphous
course structure with a nonlinear flow will allow them to make the best of the
learning and their experience.
Another benefit that nonlinearity in flow and organization of content brings
is that it allows learners who may have joined the course late,or are lagging
behind,to progress through the course at their own pace and yet catch up
with their peers and faculty.So,if a faculty is currently discussing a topic in the
5th
week,for instance,and some students have not had the chance to complete
all portions of weeks 1 to 4,they can still participate in week 5 along with the
faculty and their peers while trying to complete the previous weeks (akin to
how the Model Thinking course on Coursera was designed).
Is a chaotic learning experience good?
An amorphous and nonlinear structure inevitably leads to a chaotic learning
experience,which in fact is advocated by the pioneers of cMOOCs.Some
amount of fluidity in structure and chaos,in fact,is good,as it helps learners
become active participants as they try to bring order into the chaos and
thereby make sense of their learning.In the process,they elaborate and extend
their learning by generating newer ideas.
Should MOOCs include a pre-assessment?
Most MOOCs recommend prerequisite knowledge,but because of their open
nature,do not restrict learners from taking the course even if the necessary
prerequisites are not met.(Note that one of the top10 reasons for not
completing a MOOC in the online survey is“Assumes Too Much Knowledge.”)
Including a pre-assessment that gives the prospective learner an idea about all
that they need to be familiar with before they sign up for the course is a good
instructional strategy.The pre-assessment evaluation may also recommend
some primer modules or,alternatively,prerequisite courses that may make the
learner’s journey through the currently desired course more meaningful.
How much didactic instruction should be included?
In a course that is facilitated,the less the didactic instruction (i.e.lecture
content) and more the application and discussions and interactions with
faculty and peers,the better.A MOOC,by its very nature,should allow learning
to happen incidentally,with all the new knowledge that gets generated as
learners connect,collaborate,and exchange notes.

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This,however,may not be true in the case of complex content like“Machine
Learning,”where a significant amount of research has already been done.
In such a case,adequate didactic instruction will play an important role in
facilitating learners to generate their own“open-to-interpretation”content.
Can a MOOC run without a facilitator? If not,then should multiple
facilitators be assigned to a MOOC?
This is an interesting question because so far all MOOCs are facilitated and
follow the“personal lecture”method where you know your faculty and their
credentials. The faculty teaching MOOCs,in fact,are the star attraction to the
learners.Having a face—that too a face with high credibility—has been so far
working well in MOOCs.
However,do all MOOCs need facilitators? Depending on the group and the
aim of a MOOC,could all MOOC participants be kept on the same role?
A number of self-paced online courses,which do not require facilitators
and include assessments that can be graded,have been developed.So,one
could definitely try developing a fully self-paced MOOC and run it without
a facilitator.The challenge will be to build a highly engaging learning
environment that keeps the self-learner motivated through the course to
completion (given that the completion rates of the current facilitated courses
are quite low).
If MOOCs have to be facilitated,then depending on the scope and duration
of the course,multiple facilitators can be designated.For longer duration
courses,having more than one facilitator is helpful.Not only does it reduce the
workload of a single faculty,but helps bring in varying perspectives,thereby
providing more opportunities for constructive discussions and debates.Even
with a single facilitator,guest lectures may be organized.
Should a MOOC end with the course?
A MOOC need not necessarily end after the course closes.Most participants
(especially working professionals) should find it interesting to continue to
network and collaborate with their peers.The MOOC may then also provide
guidelines for recommended post course assignments that can continue after
the course ends officially.

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Design Strategy for MOOCs
So what constitutes a good design strategy for MOOCs? The answer is far from
obvious or easy, as MOOCs are still evolving and discussions by researchers
and educators about the need for an instructional design model are in
progress.
However,it is easier to consider the question of whether one unified
instructional design theory or model will work for all MOOCs.
Designers at Tata Interactive Systems with their two-decades long experience
believe that“one size does not fit all”and that learning designers need a
combination of theories and models to address real-life learners and academic
or business needs.
Our instructional design philosophy,therefore,combines elements from
learning research over the last few decades and delivers custom solutions
based on learner centricity.Our focus,when designing learning solutions,is on
the learner and their learning experience.Learning is a constructive process
where the learner should be actively involved.As research indicates,learner
engagement is a key factor in the effective transfer of learning.Simply put,
engaged learners learn more.
Hence,the learning experience,which drives engagement,becomes critical
to successful transfer and reinforcement of learning.Additionally,the learning
needs to be applied and reinforced to ensure retention in spite of the natural
process of forgetting over a period of time.
Finally,it is important to evaluate how effective the learning has been,both
for the learner to feel a sense of completion and for the mentors to assess the
benefits derived from learning.
Instructional Design Philosophy for MOOCs
An attempt to build on TIS’instructional design philosophy and form one
for designing MOOCs starts with the identification of the distinguishing
characteristics of a MOOC that would eventually shape up the“Learning
Experience,”which is central to our philosophy.

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Some of these characteristics are:
» Integrated and Seamless
Besides being open (and therefore massive) and online,one of the key
distinguishing characteristics of a MOOC is that it provides a networked (or
connected) learning environment.
“A network can simply be defined as connections between entities.
Computer networks,power grids,and social networks all function on
the simple principle that people,groups,systems,nodes,entities can
be connected to create an integrated whole.Alterations within the
network have ripple effects on the whole.”
- (George Siemens,2004)
Leveraging the connectedness aspect of a MOOC’s learning environment
is critical.Learners and faculty in this networked environment should
be allowed to collaborate and connect with each other to exchange
ideas,concepts,and thus bring in perspectives from different fields and
experiences to make an integrated whole.
Likewise,technology in an online course plays a significant role and due
consideration needs to be given to the tools being used in order to make the
learning experience seamless. Blending of cross-platform implementation
like PC,smartphones,and tablets as well as web-based options should be
considered.
» Individualized and Active
The learner’s path through such a learning environment needs to be
individualized.For this to happen,learners should stop being mere learners.
They have to be active participants and take control of their learning.
They should be expected to construct knowledge and make sense of their
learning as they progress through their individual paths.Finally,they have to
choose what they want to learn and from whom or where.
This then brings us to the role of the faculty in such an environment.By no
means,their role can be undermined,especially so when at this time,the star
attraction to MOOCs is the faculty teaching them.However,the question is—
whether the traditional“Sage on the Stage”role still works? In all probability,
not.In an environment that is learner-centric,the faculty has to leverage the
online medium (and technology) and upgrade their own role to that of an
expert rather than a mere lecturer. They need to move from a“Teacher”to a
“Mentor”role,and sometimes even switch to being just another peer.

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» Immersive and Contextual
If the faculty end up playing mentors,the learning solution itself needs to be
highly immersive and contextual.
21st
century skills,Web 2.0 collaborative,social-networking tools,story-based
and engaging graphic novel approaches,videos,avatars,mobile learning,
immersive learning (3-D virtual worlds,simulations,gaming) are proving to
increase knowledge transfer and learner engagement.
Contextualization of concepts is done through real-world situations or
examples.Explanations for facts and ideas are provided in the context of
a practical and real framework,which in turn facilitates organization of
knowledge for retrieval and application.This approach helps learners apply
their knowledge in situations that extend far beyond the borders of the
classroom.
As per the experiential theory (proposed by David Kolb),experience
is transferred via concrete experience and abstract conceptualization.
So,either the learner can have actual hands-on experience (in the real
or a simulated world) or may learn via reflection by learning from the
experiences of others.In short,a MOOC,like any other university course,
should be based on a career-oriented (or knowledge-transferable-to-skill-at-
workplace) curriculum.
The diagram below summarizes the characteristics that would form the
instructional design philosophy for designing MOOCs.
Learning
Experience
Immersive 3D Virtual
Worlds, Games, and
Simulations are used.
Contextualization is done
through real-world
situations and examples.
Immersive and
Contextual
Learners become active
participants and choose what
they want to learn and from
whom or where.
Individualized
and Active
Connectedness of the
environment is leveraged.
Learners and faculty collaborate
and connect to exchange ideas
from different fields to make an
integrated whole.
Integrated and
Seamless
Instructional Philosophy for MOOCs
Having an optimum mix of the above criteria should ensure a superior
learning experience in a MOOC.

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Integrating Sophisticated E-Learning
Technologies in MOOCs
Today’s xMOOCs typically begin with a video introduction by the professor
and the learners are then expected to progress through material in the form of
readings,lecture videos,assignments and so on. All of us are familiar with such
a course format.
Now picture this …
You’ve enrolled for a Life Sciences course,let’s say Field Ecology.And when
you sign into this course,instead of the regular readings and lectures,you are
directed to enter a mysterious virtual island with a sunny beach,dense forests,
caves,a“hatch”and a“hydra station”– à la LOST,the popular American serial
drama television series,first aired in 2004. The island is populated with people
from across the globe and you form groups to complete a mission.
Field Ecology on a Virtual Island
Or,consider another example,where you enroll for a course in Criminal Justice.
And instead of going through a case study or an example,you are asked to
visit a 3D virtual city.It’s 7.30 a.m.on a Wednesday morning,and traffic is
at its peak in the downtown area of the city.Amidst the traffic noise,radio
jockeys on the FM radio are reporting the kidnapping of a 7-year old from the
neighborhood.As the local police get read to investigate the crime,you join
them and start to observe,and react,and investigate the case via interactive
content,simulations,games et al.

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Criminal Justice in a Virtual City
Sophisticated e-learning technologies such as 3D virtual worlds [See
Appendix:About 3D Animations and Virtual Worlds],simulations,games,and
engaging instructional approaches such as graphic novels,case scenarios,and
story-based approaches have been used to create highly interactive online
courses.Simulations [See Appendix:About Simulations],for instance,imitate
the operation of a real world process or system over time.They are based
on the“learn by doing”approach and allow learners to practice in a risk-free
environment.
Similarly,games [See Appendix:About Game-Based Learning] have often
been used as tools to enhance the learning experience,reinforce concepts
that have been taught and even extend learning where appropriate. And,
stories [See Appendix:About Story-Based Leaning] have been used often as
an instructional approach to deliver learning effectively and promote active
learning.
With the growing popularity of mobile and hand-held devices,the use of
mobile apps for educational purposes is also growing.An example of such
an app is Leafsnap— a mobile app that identifies plants by leaf shape and
has been launched by The Smithsonian Institute,Columbia University,and
University of Maryland.
With over two decades of experience in integrating e-learning technologies in
several online higher-ed programs across multiple disciplines,Tata Interactive
Systems has a number of case studies and success stories to talk about.John
Ebersole,who is a strong promoter of e-learning technologies in online
learning,also believes …

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“Regardless of subject matter,it is important to offer the learner
multiple forms of instructional support. We know from learning theory
that we do not all learn best in the same way. While some may get by
with lectures alone,others do better with the help of visual stimulation.
Additionally,we know that case studies and stories help create context
and guidance as to application of concepts.The HEAR,SEE,DO mantra
comes to mind here. By combining what we know from both learning
and communications theory,we see a need for the“elearning
technologies.”
The result will almost certainly lead to greater student attention and
retention.”
- John Ebersole
If due consideration is given to the technology platform and the key
characteristics of a MOOC learning environment,then integrating these
technologies will definitely enhance the learner experience and keep them
engaged.
The learner experience will be further enhanced when these e-learning
technologies all come together in a live session on a collaborative platform.
Online Collaborative Platform
However,when designing a MOOC,due considerations need to be given to the
cost of developing such interactive technologies for the course.

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MOOCs: Course Structure and Flow
Keeping cost considerations aside for the time being,one possible structure
and flow that integrates e-learning technologies in the design of a MOOC
could be represented as below.
MOOCs:Course Structure and Flow

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Designing MOOCs – An Example
In this section,the author presents an example—a hypothetical case that
illustrates the application of the proposed instructional design philosophy and
flow for MOOCs.
The Case
Consider a nonprofit mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE)
organization with a mission to enhance the professionalism of attorneys and
other qualified persons by providing cost-effective,high quality,innovative
programs,publications,and other services.The organization now wants to
offer a MOOC on a Pro Bono Law topic viz.Advocating for Veterans.
Design-specific requirements from the firm include:
» Modular structure
» Engaging solution
» Demonstration of skill through interactive exercises
» Centered on the expertise of the faculty,but not dependent on it
» Provision to add custom content by faculty
The Proposed Design Approach
Continuing legal education (CLE) is about keeping lawyers current,proficient,
and on top of law.Most lawyers will do what it takes to stay current and
upgrade their skills without the need of a requirement,and so if the CLE
programs do not make good use of their time,the CLE providers will inevitably
end up with diminishing interest levels from the participants.TIS’instructional
design philosophy for developing MOOCs leverages multiple modalities
offered by the online medium (Video,Audio,Animations,Interactions,Visuals,
and Text formats) and provides participants with opportunities to interact with
the content and peers,thereby making them active learners.
The proposed solution that stems from TIS’instructional design philosophy
(Immersive,Contextual,Individualized,Active,Integrated,and Seamless) to
deliver effective instruction has the following characteristics:
» An instructional design approach that helps bring in relevance to the
learning process (Contextual)
» A highly interactive and engaging learning environment with an optimal
mix of modalities such as Video,Audio,Animations,Interactions,Visuals and
Text formats (Immersive,Active,Integrated,Seamless)
» Inquiry-based“Interactive Case”at the heart of the pedagogy (Immersive,
Contextual,Active)
• Based on Langdell’s case methodology
• Providing opportunities to practice critical thinking and apply concepts

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» Scaffolding“Primer Modules”providing didactic instruction (Immersive,
Contextual)
» Individualized experience in live chats and discussions with instructor and
peers (Individualized,Active)
» Modular Structure clearly segregating the static content from the dynamic
content,allowing instructors to customize and update the dynamic content
(Active,Integrated,Seamless)
The Solution at a Glance
Live
Sessions
Interactive
Case
Participants
DiscussionsFurther
Challenges
Primer
Modules
Faculty
Collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration
Synchronous/
Asynchronous
Collabration
with Faculty
and Peers
Relevent
“Interactive
Case”at the
Heart of the
Pedagogy
Collaborative
and
Self-Paced
Exercises
Didactic
Instruction
for
Foundation
Design Solution for the Course on Advocating for Veterans
At the core of this approach will be the skill-based“Interactive Case”that finds
its roots in Langdell’s case method of instruction.Scaffolding for the Interactive
Case will be provided in the form of instructional elements that will:
» Provide didactic and supporting instruction
» Facilitate extensive and in-depth discussions
» Allow for sharing of knowledge and experiences
» And facilitate review of the learning

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Course Structure and Flow
The following diagram depicts the structure and flow of the course.
Advocating for Veterans:MOOC Structure and Flow
Live Session
Final Review and Feedback
The course will end with a Live Session where the insructor
will provide generic feedback to participants5
Welcome Note/Video
Participants and Mentor
Introductions via Discussion Forum
Live Session
Course Overview &
Case Introduction
A welcome note or video of the mentor(s) welcoming the
participants to the course
Participants and mentor(s) post their
profiles/introductions in a discussion forum
The course kick starts with a live session with the mentor who
presents an overview of the course and briefly speaks about
the interactive case
The course is divided into:
» Self-paced e-learing content » Faculty-driven collaboration
1
2
3
4
Interactive Case - The Virtual Case File
Interactive Case - Your Take!
Primer Module 1
Primer Module 6
Instructional Screens
* Further Challenges will allow
Instructor to add their own content
and engage participants in new
assignments/activities that can go
beyond the MOOC
Knowledge ChecksPrimer Module 2
Interactive Case -
Touch Points
Discussion Forums
Further Challenges
The Self-Paced E-Learning component begins with
the Interactive Case and then delves into the
theory/instructional content, which will be
organized into modules
E-Learning
Content
Each module
will comprise
instructional
screens
interspersed
with some
knowledge
checks and the
case touch
points that will
build on the
interactive case
The E-Learning section will end with an
activity based on the interactive case
Collaborative
Exercises Where applicable,
the instructional
module will include Instructor-Led
Collaborative Exercises in the form of
Discussions and Further Challenges*

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After faculty and participants introductions in a discussion forum,the course
kick starts with a live session by the faculty who presents the course overview
and introduces the Interactive Case.Following this,the participants progress
through the self-paced e-learning content and also participate in collaborative
exercises facilitated by the faculty. The following section provides a brief
description of some of the instructional components in the course.
Self-Paced E-Learning – The Interactive Case
Learning can be made relevant if it is contextualized and the participants are
able to relate concepts to how they will apply in real life.The design goal of
the Interactive Case is to present to the participant a relevant real or fictitious
case and allow them to review and analyze this case as they progress through
the didactic instruction. The Interactive Case will use an inquiry-based
approach to stimulate critical thinking skills and allow participants to interact
with the content,the subject matter itself,thereby creating an engaging and
meaningful learning experience.
The interactive case includes these sections:
» The Case – that introduces the case and provides the relevant background
» Touch Points – that will build on and take the scenario forward
» Activity – that stimulates participant’s thought process and allows for
interaction with the content
The case will end with a summative report of participant interactions and
provide conclusions and feedback.
The Primer Modules
The Primer Modules comprise the instructional segment and present didactic
instruction with an aim to providing foundational understanding (and hence
the name“primer”) of the core concepts and principles in the given course
topic.These concepts will be presented against the backdrop of specific
examples and scenarios in a very concrete manner rather than abstractions.
The teaching of the concepts in the primer modules will be centered on the
Interactive Case.While the modules will include other relevant examples,
where applicable,the instruction in the modules will time and again relate
concepts to the main case/scenario and continue building the same via
Interactive Case Touch Points.

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Collaborative Exercises – Driven by the Instructor
Besides acquiring relevant knowledge and skills,the holistic approach to
learning,especially in the context of continuing education,should also
involve sharing of knowledge and experiences to increment the participant’s
prior experiences.To this effect,the following instructor-led activities are
recommended.
» One or more discussion forums – The faculty can post one or more
discussion questions after the first 2-3 primer modules and facilitate a
constructive discussion around the questions.The forum can also be used
to bring in industry practitioners,who can answer queries posted by the
participants and thereby clarify doubts.
» Further Challenges – All additional content in the form of videos,examples,
etc.that the instructor and participants wish to share with the group can
be posted in this section.The instructor can use this opportunity to present
“further challenges”to participants (in the form of a collaborative group
activity) based on the material posted.The participants (and the faculty)
may continue working on these further challenges even after the course is
closed.
Should Every University Offer a MOOC?
With a possible instructional design philosophy that integrates e-learning
technologies in the design of a MOOC in place,let’s now turn our attention to
a critical question—should every university offer a MOOC?
In March 2012,Insider Higher Ed published an article“Why Every University
Does Not Need A MOOC.“ The author,Joshua Kim,responds to the question as
follows:
“Should your university offer its own MOOC? Probably not. Higher ed is
a“me too/follow me”business.We are risk adverse because most of us
have lots to lose.So when an MIT does an OpenCourseWare/MITx or a
Stanford does a MOOC we are all much more likely to follow along.But
offering open course materials or learning environments may not make
sense for your institution.”
- Why Every University Does Not Need A MOOC
Inside Higher Ed,March 2012
Through the article,the author lists down some key criteria and scenarios

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when it might make sense for an institute to offer classes on the internet for
free and ends the article as follows:
“Every college or university does not need a MOOC or an MITx,but
every institution should have at least one signature program.
Something in which the entire world knows that to study X they must
go to your school.The internet economics of low information sharing
costs and global reach demolishes any excuse for not creating your own
tent-pole program.”
- Why Every University Does Not Need A MOOC
Inside Higher Ed,March 2012
The author’s stance that the university should be more concerned about
developing a signature course makes sense.The stance can be taken forward
to the case of a MOOC offering because if a university does decide to offer a
MOOC,then the MOOC should also be unique to the university.The facilitators
or the pedagogy or a combination of both can make the learner experience in
a MOOC unique.
The value proposition of a MOOC offering as cited in an EDUCAUSE Executive
Briefing titled“What Campus Leaders Need to Know About MOOCs”is as
follows:
Education Access – The primary purpose of offering MOOCs is to provide
access to education on a massive,international scale.The students receive free
instruction and in turn the institution and its faculty receive recognition.
Experimentation – MOOCs are an experiment to come up with a new
pedagogy for the digital era.Data mining from MOOC platforms is being used
to refine adaptive systems and tutoring algorithms that enhance learning
effectiveness.
Brand Extension - International recognition and acclaim of both the
institution and its faculty helps enhance and extend the brand and creates
new opportunities for the institution.
One can also add“Social Corporate Responsibility”to the above list.Providing
access to education at no or minimal cost can become a way for the university
to give back to a global community.

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Furthermore,universities can look at creating a“hook”or“stickiness factor”for
some of their critical programs by offering one or more courses free of cost.
MOOCs can also serve as primers (prerequisite courses) for a degree program.
John Ebersole from Excelsior College goes on to confirm ...
“Excelsior will offer at least two MOOCs. One will be an introduction
to Cybersecurity and the other will deal with“serious games”and their
potential for problem solving and learning. In both cases the purpose
is to create awareness of the fact that the College has programs and
expertise in these niches. Our expectation is to generate enrollments
in our regular courses and degree programs rather than to see income
from the MOOCs themselves.”
- John Ebersole
Thus,how a MOOC can be integrated within a curriculum is something that
can be determined after due considerations to various factors.Furthermore,
which of these MOOCs could integrate sophisticated e-learning technologies
is also something that can be determined on a case-to-case basis.[See
Appendix:John Ebersole’s Taxonomy of MOOCs]
The important question then to ask is—how universities can generate
revenue,if any,from these offerings? The EDUCAUSE briefing goes on to list
revenue opportunities as:
» “Data mining:Sell student information to potential employers or advertisers.
» Cross- or up-sell:Course materials (e.g.,videos) are freely available,but
ancillary services like assignment grading,access to the social networks,and
discussions are fee-based.
» Advertising model:Courses have named sponsors.
» Tuition model:Students pay the originating institution for course credit.
» Spin off/licensing model:Sell the course,parts of the course,or customized
versions of the course to institutions or businesses for their internal use;
license institutional use of the MOOC platform itself.”
So,in conclusion,whether or not an institute should join the bandwagon
and start offering MOOCs is a question answered best by the institute. A
thoughtful self-appraisal of key operational and pedagogical requirements
should help determine the optimum approach for a successful
implementation.

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References
Horn Michael,Christensen Clayton (2013).Beyond the Buzz,Where Are MOOCs
Really Going? http://www.wired.com/opinion/2013/02/beyond-the-mooc-
buzz-where-are-they-going-really/ accessed 2013-03-01
Inside Higher Ed (2012).Why Every University Does Not Need A MOOC by
Joshua Kim.http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/technology-and-learning/
why-every-university-does-not-need-mooc accessed 2013-03-18
Siemens George (2012).Designing,developing,and running (massive) open
online courses:http://www.slideshare.net/gsiemens/designing-and-running-
a-mooc accessed 2013-03-15
Siemens George (2012).What is the theory that underpins our moocs? http://
www.elearnspace.org/blog/2012/06/03/what-is-the-theory-that-underpins-
our-moocs/ accessed 2013-03-01
Waldrop M.Mitchell (2013).Online learning:Campus 2.0.Massive open
online courses are transforming higher education — and providing fodder
for scientific research.http://www.nature.com/news/online-learning-
campus-2-0-1.12590#/rising accessed 2013-04-01
Wikipedia (2012a).Massive open online course.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Massive_open_online_course
Williams Roy,Karousou Regina,& Mackness Jenny (2011).Emergent Learning
and Learning Ecologies in Web 2.0.http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/
article/view/883/1686 accessed 2013-03-15

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Appendix
John Ebersole’s Taxonomy of MOOCs
Although xMOOCs and cMOOCs are the two most prominent types of MOOCs,
many other categories and taxonomies have emerged.Here’s a categorization
of MOOCs proposed by John Ebersole.
The CONTINUING EDUCATION Domain
Many observers suggest that the highest and best use of MOOCs is in the
offering of professional continuing education,where the emphasis is on
access to cutting edge content. Busy professionals seeking to maintain their
competitiveness by staying abreast of research and new thinking,and not
caring about academic credit,have expressed great satisfaction with the
MOOC approach to disseminating knowledge.
The REPUTATION Domain
MOOCs allow faculty to demonstrate both their subject matter expertise and
their presentation skills. In an era when text books rarely sell even a thousand
copies,MOOCs present an attractive alternative for those faculty seeking
prominence within their discipline and greater name recognition. In fact,
many informed participants have suggested that MOOCs are more akin to
texts than to courses.
The INSTITUTIONAL Domain
The public relations value of a MOOC is considerable. Not only does it enable
an institution to“follow in the footsteps of giants”- MIT,Stanford,Harvard,such
offerings also convey the impression that the school is both tech savvy and
concerned about open access to knowledge.
When over 70% of current MOOC participants are from outside the U.S.,this is
also an effective way to build brand awareness for lesser known institutions.
The PROMOTIONAL Domain
Some MOOC providers,like Excelsior,see these models as an effective way to
aggregate interest in a program that might otherwise require tremendous
investment to market,and achieve a similar level of interest.
By offering an initial experience for free,schools are hoping to attract some
number to related programs,at full fee. Even a small percentage is likely to
exceed those attracted through conventional marketing activity.

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The RESEARCH Domain
The MOOC provider edX has publicly stated that its intent is not necessarily
to make money,but,rather,to inform the delivery of instruction across a
spectrum of models. Thus,research and development,along with the diffusion
of innovation are seen as legitimate applications of the MOOC methodology,
as well.
The ACADEMIC Domain
The sixth and perhaps least effective application of MOOCs is that of delivering
instruction for purposes of degree completion. The lack of instructor contact,
mentoring and one-on-one interaction is a significant limitation when the
needs of traditional age students is considered. Here,their use may need
to be as a supplement to more traditional forms of instruction. For older,
experienced,self-motivated and self-directed students,MOOCs MAY be an
option for the satisfaction of certain credential requirements. However,the
absence of valid and secure learning outcome assessments leaves this an
open question. Until there is some proof of actual learning,MOOCs may be
better considered for one or more of the above applications.
About Learning Nuggets
Learners from the digital era need small bites of information just-in-time
and quickly.Therefore,there is a trend toward shorter,more concise learning
modules.At TIS,we’ve designed Learning Nuggets that are short capsules of
information dealing with wide range of topics.Nuggets are focused in topic
and duration for efficient cultivation of critical knowledge,skills,and attitudes.
Rather than overloading the learners with lots of information at a time,these
nuggets provide information in a concise and focused manner.
Learning Nuggets or the“100 Seconds Learner”bridges the huge gap between
formal learning and informal learning.
Read more about Learning Nuggets at http://www.tatainteractivesystems.
com/learning-nuggets.html

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About Story-Based Learning
From the beginning of time,storytelling has been the means by which
cultures and societies have preserved and celebrated their memories,passed
on their values and belief systems,entertained,informed,and instructed.They
were cognitive patterns of the society preserved for instructional and other
purposes.The whole community could draw on the“truths”presented by
them.Long before there were written records,storytellers taught through the
oral tradition.
From the learning perspective,the story-based approach is powerful
because stories promote active learning,as manifested in the CRUNCHED
characteristics of stories:Contextual,Realistic,Unusual,Natural,Concrete,
Human,Easily accepted and Discovery-oriented.
Read more about TIS’story-based learning solutions at http://www.
tatainteractive.com/brochures/stoBLs_ebook.pdf
About Simulations
Simulations follow the constructivist learning principle—performance in an
environment that mimics the real world is more effective than training that is
de-contextualized.
Simulations are effective learning interventions designed to help learners
internalize complex concepts through real-world scenarios.Based on the
constructivist learning principles,these projects allow students to apply
concepts in a risk-free environment and reflect and learn from the impact
of their decisions.The students are prompted to engage in critical thinking,
assess the complex relationships that exist with the problem,and construct
their own knowledge models.
Read more about TIS’Simulation-based solutions at http://www.
tatainteractivesystems.com/business-simulations.html

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About Game-Based Learning
Learning through games is fun,cost-effective,and low-risk.TIS creates
captivating and educative games for adult learners that elevate the level of
learner engagement and learning retention.
The Play-Practice-Perfect or P3 model developed by TIS is the foundation for a
game-based learning approach that delivers:
» Higher engagement through play
» Higher skills and higher retention through practice
» Higher efficiency through perfection
The game-based approach makes learning fun,improves skills and knowledge,
and elicits desired behavior.In short,serious games directly address business
outcomes.
Read more about Serious Games at http://www.tatainteractivesystems.com/
game-based-learning.html
About 3D Animations and Virtual Worlds
3D animations and virtual realms help create engaging and immersive
learning environments that simulate the real world.These virtual worlds are
based on the contructivist principles and allow learners to take up an active
role and communicate with each other.Objects in such an environment often
respond to learner action,giving a sense of 3D immersion.
Read more about TIS’3D and animations capabilities at
http://www.tatainteractivesystems.com/animation-learning-solutions.html

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