ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces a revolutionary 21st-century learning approach called Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). It is revolutionary in the sense that it is based on a “connectivist” learning approach that aims to include more participation, is open access, and is a free-of-cost learning platform in the field of higher education. From 2008 onwards Dave Cormier, Stephen Downes, and George Siemens coined the term MOOC as a learning approach based on the “connectivist” distributed peer learning model. MOOC was developed because from the connectivist learning approach. In a teaching-learning environment, every student participates with some intention such as acquiring knowledge, earning a credential, etc. In a MOOC-based learning environment, various components are used to increase learner engagement. MOOC has been theoretically justified by the presently developed “connectivism” theory. OpenLearning is also a MOOC-based learning environment.
