MOOC is an acronym of Massive Open Online Course, which translates to the Spanish "massive open online course". These courses have been designed with the intention of sharing knowledge through interaction and collaboration of participants enrolled in them, through the social web technologies 2.0.
Connections that are generated in a MOOC, whether the participants with the content, networks and technological tools, They allow the exchange of knowledge and experiences, expanding learning opportunities.
The MOOC are based on learning of the connectivism theory developed by George Siemens and Stephen Downes. This theory of learning in the digital age takes the analysis of other theories and their limitations, as behaviorism, cognitivism and Constructivism to explain how learning occurs through technological networks. According to these authors, learning is supported by the social interaction of persons involved in the course with the content through social networks. The participants connected to these networks share materials, readings and references from third parties, so you can build a true knowledge network. The main contribution of the MOOC to the educational process is which lay within the reach of all people who want to learn, content and activities in network, in order to generate and share knowledge.
Many questions about the effectiveness of this type of courses in the training process, for example: Really learn on a course with these characteristics, in which so many people register massively?, What is the effect of the MOOC quality learning?
It is still early to see the real impact that these initiatives have, the truth, It is that the MOOC are a challenge and a challenge for universities, and in addition, a large area of research for us teachers in e-learning that we should worry about creating the conditions to allow learning in virtual environments.
