Who: SUL and Coordinate Library Staff
When: Thursday, February 21, 2012, 2:30 - 4 PM
Where: Green Library, IC Classroom 

While MOOCs are a relatively new phenomenon, "distance learning" has existed for several decades, and for-profit universities have already delivered instruction to millions of students using the Internet. There are marked differences between these two online learning systems: the open and massive nature of MOOCs appeals to many more students than the restricted environment of traditional distance learning. This has led to predictions of a sudden rise in their acceptance and use by many academic institutions in the coming years. 

We might be at the cusp of online education with the prospect of individuals and organizations developing multiple resources, technologies and schemes that will radically transform the online learning experience, especially in higher education.  An analogy could be made with the emergence of mobile phone apps: consider the trajectory from limited and very basic functions in early mobile phones, to the explosion of over a million smart phone apps in less than five years. 

Are MOOCs heading in such a direction, where adoption will rise exponentially in the near future?  Although MOOCs have their share of well-informed critics and detractors, many signs point to a likelihood of broad adoption. What can we learn about the immediate and long term implications of such developments regarding the Stanford University Libraries and its associated services?

Panelists include Pamela Levine and Paul Kim of the Stanford Graduate School of Education, Arik Lifshitz, co-founder of the University of the People, Merrilee Proffitt of OCLC Research, and Kim Hayworth of the office of Stanford's Vice Provost for Online Education.  Joseph Makokha of the Cubberley Education Library will moderate.  Come join us for a lively library conversation on this important topic.