A networked learning framework for effective MOOC design: the ECO project approach

In the past two years a lot of attention has been given by the European Commission, as well as the European open, distance and digital education community, to the development of an alternative, more collaborative approach to MOOC design that has the potential to represent a solid qualitative alternative to the most commonly used models today. These models, which basically follow a trend originated at the top US universities that is broadly identified in the literature as xMOOCs, are proving to be inconsistent with the European standards for formal higher education due to their low-level of learner support and lack of an enriched pedagogical approach. Within the framework of the EU-funded project Elearning, Communication and Open-data: Massive Mobile, Ubiquitous and Open Learning (ECO) a research team from a pool of institutions with experience in MOOC design conceived a model that attempts to meet the above-referred challenge. In this paper we present a description of the model and its most innovative features, its theoretical foundations and context of development, as well as scenarios of implementation. Through our definition of MOOCs and assumptions, principles and characteristics of the pedagogical framework it should become clear why a networked learning framework for effective MOOC design will be able to meet the ambition of European higher education institutions to develop an alternative, more quality-oriented and effective approach to a massive open online form of education delivery.Part of the work carried out has been funded with support from the European Commission, under the ICT Policy Support Programme, as part of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) in the ECO project under grant agreement n° 21127