MOOCs and Open Education is a new edited collection that discusses issues related to massive open online courses (MOOCs) and open education resources (OERs). Advancements in e-learning pedagogy and technology make it possible for learners all around the world to participate in online classes. These MOOC courses are “massive” because they do not have any limit on the number of students that can participate. These MOOC courses are called “open” because they are an idea that originated with the Open Education Resources community. MOOC courses are free for students but they do not always lead to formal accreditation. Organizations have to struggle with a variety of issues today because elearning technology is improving so rapidly. How can we make sure that the education provided by MOOCs meets an acceptable level of quality? How can we make sure that the educators are properly credentialed and qualified? What innovative assessment strategies and teaching practices are optimal for these MOOCs? How can uniform quality standards be defined and maintained? What different business models do organizations like Udemy, MITx, Coursera, edX, and Udacity use for these MOOC courses?

As online learning technology becomes more widely available there is an increasing need to understand how these MOOC courses are being conducted all around the world. Universities, governments, corporations, and numerous other stakeholders want to better understand the outcomes of these exciting new open education initiatives. How can MOOC courses be improved?. To meet this increasing desire for information the new book MOOCs and Open Education offers a critical analysis of MOOC courses and other open education issues. This Open Education book explores the most important controversies that are associated with MOOC courses and OERs. This MOOCs book shares key research findings and provides suggestions for anyone who is interested in open education. Learn more by visiting MOOCs and Open Education.

MOOCs and Open Education