Academic libraries in the age of MOOCs

Abstract

Purpose – The article aims to report on the current development of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), explore the strengths and weaknesses of MOOCs, and reflect on the possible relationships between academic libraries and MOOCs. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a mix of literature review (mostly current news) and personal observations. The author discusses the unique characteristics of MOOCs, speculates on the benefits of MOOCs on higher education, and explores the impact of MOOCs on academic libraries and how librarians can respond to it. Findings – MOOCs create global learning communities that benefit both students and universities, and generate unique challenges and opportunities for academic libraries. It is recommended that librarians stay informed of the latest developments and get involved in the MOOC movement on an institutional as well as personal level. Research limitations/implications – Further research needs to be done to evaluate the efficacy of MOOCs (especially in the non‐STEM areas), to explore best practices in instruction design and pedagogy, and to rethink on strategic positioning of traditional universities vis‐à‐vis MOOCs. Practical implications – The author speculates on a possible “iTunization of information” and how that might impact academic libraries as well as the open access movement. The author also calls for academic libraries to be fully engaged in the discussion and action on their own campus related to MOOCs, and to support individual librarians' exploration of MOOCs. Originality/value – This article is based on the author's personal experience as a MOOC student and her opinions and speculations on issues related to MOOCs. The article also explores the relationship between MOOCs and academic libraries, which has not been extensively discussed in the library literature.

Academic Library’s Responses to the Emerging Trends in Higher Education

“…The 'Environmental Scan' report suggested that libraries should remain involved in the development and delivery of MOOCs. Similarly, Kerry Wu 11 explored the impact of MOOCs on academic libraries, and appealed academic librarians that they should be fully engaged in the discussion and action on their own campus related to MOOCs. With rapid increase in MOOC, the academic libraries have an opportunity to develop packages/portals that provide access to 'course-based additional resources' or 'e-content packages' for MOOC learners.…”

Untitled

“…Otro punto a destacar es que, en la última década, muchas universidades de todo el mundo han comenzado a ofrecer Cursos Masivos Abiertos en Línea (más conocidos como MOOC) junto a su oferta formativa tradicional, lo que permite cambios en la práctica docente y el modelo de negocio de las diferentes universidades; de acuerdo con Wu (2013) "si los MOOC van a transformar a la Educación Superior, esto tendrá indudablemente un impacto significativo en la forma en que las bibliotecas trabajan y en el rol que desempeñan en el futuro del aprendizaje" (p. 85). La situación actual del campo de la cooperación de bibliotecas -MOOC, según Barnes (2013), se caracteriza por la existencia de pocos estudios, debido a lo reciente del fenómeno; al mismo tiempo, es evidente que se trata de un tema que suscita gran interés en el mundo profesional, como se puede comprobar por la celebración de eventos tales como: MOOCs and Libraries: Massive Opportunity or Overwhelming Challenge?…”

<i>The Open Library at AU</i> (Athabasca University): supporting open access and open educational resources

“…As the scholarly communication landscape evolves, and explores the creation and use of open resources, libraries can assist in shaping and furthering the discussions of these materials on their campuses. The careful collection, creation, and curation, of open access resources, and the subsequent marketing of these sources can aid in this work (Mitchell & Chu, 2014;Wu, 2013;Martin, 2010 (Martin, 2010). It can be a challenge to identify appropriate content, and librarians must be knowledgeable of the difference between various open access sources, and be aware of strategies for identifying relevant materials.…”

“…As libraries are often considered the experts in copyright and licensing, a librarian may be asked to provide insight into these areas, or be asked to secure permissions for use of a particular set of resources. S/he might also be asked to provide instruction on how to find relevant and accessible sources on a topic or on a specific aspect of the research process (Barnes, 2013;Wu, 2013). Mahraj (2012) posits that librarian involvement in MOOCs follows logically from the work currently performed by librarians in the support of courses and students, and suggests that just as librarians are currently embedded in many online courses, they should also be embedded in MOOCs.…”