ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on why and how institutions of higher education might engage in offering massive open online courses (MOOCs) to support professional development (PD). The chapter discusses MOOCs as a PD tool from the perspective of the institution, instructors, learners and employers, exploring the potential benefits and drawbacks for each constituent. MOOCs are a good option for PD because the open learning format and scalability can make access to well-designed professional learning affordable. With support from universities – and recognising that there will be a saturation point for need and not everyone must be involved – and encouragement or recognition from employers, a symbiotic learning and research system may emerge. To ensure that these endeavours are successful, PD MOOCs must not only address workforce-relevant topics, but also be designed in a manner that promotes flexible, authentic learning and the development of professional networks.