MOOCs: The Enduring Importance of “Teacher Presence”

Abstract

This paper explores the role of the teacher in MOOCs. The paper begins by describing types of MOOCs– –cMOOCs and xMOOCs as well as hybrids that include elements of both––and then presents highlights from MOOC implementations, research findings, and insights from teachers who have implemented MOOCs. The author concludes that, although some MOOC developers minimalize the teacher’s role, researchers, instructors, and participants support the idea that the teacher is no less important than in other learning environments, underscoring the need for research into the role of the teacher in MOOCs.