(M)OOCs in Iceland: Language and learning communities

• Main Author: Jakobsdóttir, Sólveig
• Other Authors: Rannsóknarstofa í upplýsingatækni og miðlun (HÍ), Centre for Educational Research on ICT and Media (UI), Menntavísindasvið (HÍ), School of Education (UI), Háskóli Íslands, University of Iceland
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: The European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU) 2016
• Subjects: MOOCs; Higher education; Iceland; Háskólamenntun; Ísland
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/135

The paper was originally presented at the HOME conference in Rome November 30 2015. http://home.eadtu.eu/news/98-conference-wow-europe-embraces-moocs. Authors were invited to submit a more developed paper for peer review to be presented in this report. This relates to policy work on European MOOCs see e.g. http://home.eadtu.eu/news/109-policy-forum-on-european-moocs An overview is given of experiences of MOOCs in Iceland. An open online Icelandic language course from 2004 at the University of Iceland (UI) has been popular and remains open. A work group, formed in 2013 by the president of the UI, analysed the MOOC landscape and gathered data about students' use of MOOCs and OERs. Recommendations included trialling integration of international MOOCs in UI courses. In 2014, opportunities for participation in MOOCs were provided in four courses, in some cases as group activity with discussion of experiences. Other developments include a 2015 open online course for professional development on ICT in teaching and learning. Over 300 teachers were registered and emphasis was on the use of social media and supporting a learning community. Results from these cases indicate importance of MOOCs for professional development but the role of language, culture and learning communities needs further attention. University of Iceland, Sáttmálasjóður. HOME - Higher education Online: MOOCs the European way, project supported by the European Commission, DG EAC, under the Lifelong Learning Programme (Ref. 543516-LLP-1-2013-1-NL-KA3-KA3NW). Peer Reviewed