What is MOOC?

A MOOC or Massive Open Online Course allows thousands of people to subscribe to the same course at the same time, which is run online over a series of weeks or months. Study materials might include video tutorials, assignments and online lectures, with many courses often made available world-wide and in several languages.
The MOOC was originally developed to give education opportunities to those who were unable to access that specific type of course, maybe due to prohibitive cost or because of their location.
The internet allows students to partake in a MOOC anywhere in the world providing they have online access. This has proved to be a valuable training tool in areas with skills shortages or a limited range of course availability. Although many courses are free, there are some paid courses for those looking to study for a specific certificate or whose course requires additional course materials or tutor feedback.
The percentage of people completing a paid MOOC is much higher than those who finish a free MOOC. Some degree level MOOC have now been developed where students carry out most of their work online and only need to visit the University on rare occasions. Many MOOC courses are written and made available by universities so the coursework is of a high standard.
The popularity of the MOOC continues to grow rapidly as online learning is set to transform the way people are educated over the coming years.