MOOCs and the Future of Higher Education

Abstract Openness will significantly play an important role in driving innovation in education and in the development of higher education. The teaching cycle may also be opened up by open courses, like MOOCs. Since 2008, MOOCs have been the top issue of higher education worldwide. Frankly speaking, the pros and cons of getting into MOOC-based education are evident. Via literature review and MOOC-related websites, MOOC instructional methods, MOOC platform functions, MOOC growth, and MOOC future are summarized, analyzed, and discussed on the pedagogy dimension. Some suggestions for the performance of the MOOCs are suggested based on the study. This paper reviews the current status of MOOCs in higher education, theoretical frameworks behind the pedagogical methodology implemented in MOOCs, and education work relating to developing, implementing, function of MOOCs in higher education promotion, assessing MOOCs and proposing consequences and conclusion for MOOC operations.