The impact of MOOC aggregators on the development of language education

Abstract

Due to a large number of massive open online courses (MOOC), it becomes more and more difficult for the users to determine which course best suits their needs. To improve the efficiency of course selection, a place is needed where they can visually compare the offers of different MOOC providers. The article aims to identify the number and characteristics of massive open online courses for language learning (MOOLC) using MOOC aggregators and to trace their impact on the development of language education. The article presents different approaches to such concepts as MOOC, MOOLC, MOOC platform, MOOC aggregator and MOOC provider. The article determines MOOC aggregators, which would allow identifying the number and characteristics of MOOLC, and examines the possibilities of some MOOC platforms, which offer courses for English language learning, basing on the selected criteria for evaluation of the existing MOOC platforms. The author concludes that nowadays, the ideal MOOC platform, which could offer the necessary conditions for creating an ideal MOOLC, does not exist.