Training Industry Quarterly - Fall 2013 - (Page 3)

FROM WHERE I SIT | DOUG HARWARD Volume 6 THE SUSTAINABILITY OF MOOCS The popularity of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) has skyrocketed. And, the rate in which these courses have risen in popularity has been fascinating to watch. Having university-level courses available to the masses is quite a development in the learning and development industry. Issue 4 Fall 2013 www.trainingindustry.com/TIQ Publisher Training Industry, Inc. 401 Harrison Oaks Blvd., Suite 300 | Cary, NC 27513 (919) 653-4990 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Harward dharward@trainingindustry.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Ken Taylor ktaylor@trainingindustry.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, TRAINING INDUSTRY QUARTERLY Michelle Eggleston meggleston@trainingindustry.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, TRAININGINDUSTRY.COM Nabeel Jaitapker njaitapker@trainingindustry.com As learners, we now have the ability to take a course offered by an accredited university at any given time, free of charge. While the availability of these open online courses is an innovative step in our industry, there are a few drawbacks to consider. Credentials are not provided to students who participate and complete MOOC programs. From a badge perspective, there is little to show from participation in the courses. Also, completion rates are relatively low for the courses. This may be attributed to the fact the courses are free so there is no financial obligation to finish the course, or it could simply be there is little time to devote to the course at that point. Lastly, and possibly the most notable drawback, there is limited funding sources to design and develop future courses. From a business standpoint, the question of sustainability emerges. Are MOOCs sustainable in the current business model? Without an additional funding source, will professors eventually stop creating the content? These are important questions to consider. Since the courses are free to take, there are no proceeds that trickle back to the creators of the courses. Will the pure marketing value for the university be enough? DESIGNER Ryan McGuire rmcguire@trainingindustry.com ADVERTISING SALES North & East: Dan Weller dweller@trainingindustry.com West: Kristin Bolduc kbolduc@trainingindustry.com South: Taylor Cutts tcutts@trainingindustry.com COVER ART: © ENOT-POLOSKUN | istockphoto.com EDITORIAL BOARD editor@trainingindustry.com Shawn Andrews, Senior Training Manager, Global Medical Affairs, Allergan Robert Campbell, Vice President of Learning, Cerner Corp. Derek Cunard, Dean, American Heart University, American Heart Association Vince Eugenio, Senior Director of Talent and Organization Development, The Weather Channel Carol Gajus, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President, HR Talent Management, Fifth Third Bank Nancy Gustafson, Workforce Learning and Development Manager, American Red Cross Lorna Hagen, Vice President, Human Resources, Ann Taylor Jeanette Harrison, Vice President, Enterprise Learning & Development, Pitney Bowes John Hovell, Manager, Learning Operations and Technology, BAE Systems Kaliym Islam, Vice President, Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. Barbara Jordan, Chief Learning Officer, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service From where I sit, the current business model needs to change in order for MOOCs to be sustainable. The courses cannot just be developed as an advertising vehicle for the university. There needs to be money to flow back to those creating the content. I believe MOOCs have a place in the training industry; we just need to rethink the current business model to develop a sustainable solution. Doug Harward is CEO of Training Industry, Inc., and a former learning leader in the high-tech industry. Email Doug. Training Industry Quarterly, Fall 2013 / A Training Industry, Inc. magazine / www.trainingindustry.com/TIQ Karen Kocher, Chief Learning Officer, Cigna Meredith Lubitz, Vice President, Talent Management, Dow Jones Laura Moraros, Vice President, Sales Learning & Development, Yahoo! Krys Moskal, Vice President, People Development, Pearson Scott Neeley, National Training Manager, Newell Rubbermaid Scott Nutter, General Manager of Flight Operations Research, Quality and Training, Delta Steve Sitek, Head of Learning, Education & Communications, Ethics & Compliance, Novartis Kee Meng Yeo, Director, Global Learning and Development, Amway 3 http://www.trainingindustry.com/TIQ http://www.TRAININGINDUSTRY.COM http://www.istockphoto.com http://www.trainingindustry.com http://www.trainingindustry.com/TIQ

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Training Industry Quarterly - Fall 2013

From Where I Sit: The Sustainability of MOOCs
Table of Contents
Ad Index
Guest Editor: Top Five Learning Technologies to Watch
We Need to Support Learning, Not Manage It
Supercharge Your Next Leadership Initiative
Boomers & the Technology Gap
Technologies to Manage Information Overload
It's Time to Invest in the 'Performance Zone'
Inroducing Simulation into Learning Technologies: Examining the Key Considerations
The Evolution of the LMS
Bringing Your Mojo to the Virtual Classroom
Merging Social Learning and Technology to Achieve Business Outcomes
Optimizing Workforce Learning and Performance
Badges: Bridging the Higher Education and Workforce Gap
Integrating Video into Training
Tools for Supporting Sales Coaching
Tweet Suite
Company News

Training Industry Quarterly - Fall 2013