THE ROLE OF MOOCS AND OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES IN HIGHER EDUCATION Applications in Teaching Medicine and Laboratory Science

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and Open Educational Resources (OER) have emerged as transformative tools in higher education. For fields like medicine and laboratory sciences, where constant innovation and updated protocols are essential, MOOCs and OERs represent an invaluable complement to traditional teaching. These resources enhance accessibility, flexibility, and student engagement, while bridging gaps between theory and clinical practice This paper explores the role of MOOCs and OERs in higher education, with a particular focus on teaching laboratory sciences, and examines how these resources can support student-centered learning. A comparative analysis is provided between traditional lecture-based instruction and student-centered approaches supported by OER and MOOCs. Findings suggest that OER-supported teaching improves knowledge retention, practical skills, and clinical reasoning