MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSES AS A STAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF E-LEARNING

The paper aims to trace back the history of e-Learning which encompasses the advent of m-Learning, the emergence of Smart University, massive open online courses (MOOCs) and cloud technologies. Special attention is given to the study of MOOCs phenomena. The article highlights characteristic features of two main types of MOOC: cMOOC and xMOOC in particular. The comparison of the MOOCs and traditional learning limitations and shortcomings, the statistic data regarding the MOOC platforms and students’ enrolment, the analysis of differences between traditional distance courses and MOOCs, the main problems of MOOCs are considered in the paper