2014 ASHS Annual Conference

The past two decades brought an explosion of new teaching technologies with a resulting proliferation of on-line courses, virtual degree programs, and internet-based colleges.  One example gaining attention in both academic and public domains is the Massive Open On-line Course (MOOC).  In this session, the authors will present and lead a discussion on the development of MOOCs and their role in and impact on educational programs.   There have always been means of self-education and self-improvement-- ways to learn independently and blaze an individual trail for a career or increased education.  MOOCs are a new tool for individuals pursuing personal goals; however, the presence of MOOCs in the existing, traditional educational environment creates interesting questions.  Are MOOCs  a new and novel educational approach or simply an old idea dressed differently?  Who is the audience for MOOCs and whose needs do these courses meet?  Do MOOCs fit into our traditional agricultural curricula and outreach programs or do MOOCs pose a threat?   Should our universities and/or our faculty develop MOOCs or participate in commercial MOOC consortia (such as Coursera) and what would be incentives or disincentives to produce and share a MOOC?  Should a MOOC be a part of the teaching methodology and curricula portfolio or an academic resource for enhancement?  The presenters will explore these ideas and lead an open “crowd-sourcing” discussion as an opening to the workshop.