The Advancing MOOCs for Development Initiative (AMDI) Online Learning for Workforce Development IREX Scott Andersen, Director Advancing MOOCs Development Initiative UNESCO Asia Education Summit on Flexible Learning Strategies for Out-of-School Children Bangkok, Thailand February 24-26

Page1 Part One: About the Program Advancing MOOCs For Development Initiative (AMDI) + Advancing skills of young workforces through online education IREX works with individuals, institutions, and governments to expand access to and improve the quality of education worldwide. Explores the design, use, and effects of information and communication technologies in communities facing social and economic challenges through research

2 Relevant Skills? Antiquated Educational Methodologies Affordable Access? Why MOOCs? Education Systems Failing Today’s Youth

Developing World is Experiencing Youth Population Surge

4 Workforce Development Challenge Massive unmet need for education Growing youth bulge Increasingly dynamic global economy Weak formal education systems How to Achieve Quality – Affordability – Scalable – Access to Education?

Page5 Part 2: MOOCs and Teachers Online courses offer both quality education and career teacher training globally Available -- to anyone with computer access -- often free Quality -- many of the world’s greatest educators and institutions Diversity -- knowledge and skills in a variety of topics - available in multiple languages, though pre-dominantly in English

Page6 “ Nothing has more potential to lift more people out of poverty… providing them an affordable education to get a job or improve in the job they have… Nothing has more potential to unlock a billion more brains to solve the world’s biggest problems… And nothing has more potential to enable us to reimagine higher education than the Massive Open Online Course….” – Thomas L. Friedman

HarvardX and MITx: Two Years of Open Online Courses Fall 2012-Summer % of MOOC users were teachers Primary goals of teachers were not certificates but to improve skills in select competencies MOOCs began as college courses but now increasingly serve K-12 audiences

Page8 Top Motivations (for taking online courses) Today’s (Changing) MOOC Users Global Audience Visitors come from over 210 Countries 52% of users come from the international community Educational Attainment (Non-American Users)  Personal Fulfillment  Advancing along current career path 38% 28% 9% 10% 3% 2% 11% Source:

Page9 Advantages on On-Line Education for Teachers Should education really be a teacher, a box and 20 students? Peer 2 peer learning review opportunities Time constraints - study in the evening New teacher instruction services and programs allow teachers to follow and keep up with their contemporaries Most teacher education services are free of charge

Page10 Advantages of On-Line Education for K-12 Gamification of content matter Badges encourage and reward going forward Learn as you go and immediate auto-correction Multiple stimulation – sight, sound, sensory Digital storytelling adds to content and memory

Liberating Learning from Confined Systems… Simplicity -Mini-MOOCs for “skills set” development Practicality -YouTube for “how to” instructions

Page12 Which of these factors affect MOOC usage the most? Are there other factors? Obstacles to MOOCs Globally Information Unaware of online courses Unsure which courses would benefit them in terms of educational attainment or employment Access to IT Infrastructure Inability to access computers or phones or other devices to take a courses Cost of internet data Relevance to Country Context Language or not relevant to the local context and what local employers need Perception/ Value Extent to which MOOCs lead to new or improved career opportunities. Extent to which employers value the training offered by MOOCs Personal Constraints Juggling time, the need for self-discipline, motivation What are the greatest constraints on MOOC usage in developing countries?

Page13 Questions? Get Involved! Thank you and please visit us at: The Advancing MOOCs For Development Initiative