In this session, Keith Boyd, who steers business strategy for online learning at Microsoft, will introduce you to the fascinating and fast changing world of Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs), Small Private Online Courses (SPOCs), and how they should impact your content strategy. Should MOOCs and SPOCs be part of your content strategy? If so, how do you get started? What resources are available to you as a content professional to explore this emerging modality? And why would you make a bet on MOOCs over other emergent learning options? Learn why you shouldn’t dismiss this trend, and how an investment now could help you to future-proof your content strategy and increase loyalty and affinity to your product or service.

1. How MOOCs, SPOCs, and Next Generation e-Learning
are Impacting Content Strategy
Keith Boyd, Microsoft Corporation
November 7, 2017

4. A Quick Acronym Lesson (QAL)
A MOOC is an online
course aimed at
unlimited participation
and open access. In
addition to traditional
course materials,
MOOCs provide user
forums to support
interactions among
students, professors,
and (TAs).
SPOCs (Self-Paced
Online Course) offer a
similar experience, but
at a pace that’s set by
the learner and with
less interactivity with an
instructor or cohort.

5. Year of the MOOC?
“Traditional online courses
charge tuition, carry credit and
limit enrollment to a few dozen
to ensure interaction with
instructors. The MOOC, on the
other hand, is usually free,
credit-less and, well, massive.”
The Year of the MOOC,
The NY Times, 11/2/2012
MOOCs circa 2017:
• More paid MOOCs
• Rise of self-paced learning
libraries
• Many provide college credit
• The majority of MOOCs are
now smaller in scope and
self-paced.

6. MOOCs by the numbers
26
13
6 5.3
4
Top MOOC providers by registered users
(M)
Coursera edX XuetangX FutureLearn Udacity
6Research by Class Central and EdSurge

7. So how do
MOOCs fit
into content
strategy?
X Axis: Depth of content
Y Axis: Customer maturity
MarComm
TechComm MOOCs & SPOCs
Badges
Exploring
Committed
Just-in-
time help
Mastery

8. Why consider MOOCs for
your Content Strategy?
MOOCs drive greater
loyalty and affinity
than other content
types
MOOCs encourage
deeper learning of a
subject matter than
other types of content
Done right, they can
inspire and motivate
users to dig deeper into
your product or service
MOOCs appeal to
different types of
learners, helping you to
cover the bases
http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Multiple_Intelligences_and_Learning_StylesMore information:

9. Who are the key players?
Udacity: Founded by Sebastian Thrun of Google “X Labs”, Udacity
offers “Nanodegrees” for completing online courses.
edX: A non-profit joint venture of Harvard and MIT. “Open edX” is
a free, open source platform for building/hosting MOOCs.
Coursera: Founded by Daphne Koller (Stanford/Google) and
Andrew Ng (Stanford CS), they have the largest user community.
Udemy: A platform for connecting course authors and students,
Udemy instructors come from all walks of life
Lynda.com: Acquired by LinkedIn in 2014, Lynda offers 3,000+
courses by subscription focused on technology and creativity
Pluralsight: Similar to Lynda, but with more emphasis on tech
content. Recently launched “Iris” to evaluate & grow skills.
OpenClassrooms: French-based provider offering fully accredited,
12-month, $4,000 USD online bachelor’s degrees.

10. Can I do this? Yes!
How?
Build your own
MOOC, and host it
using an open source
or 3rd party platform
Build it yourself, but
use a hosted
platform
Work with a 3rd party
to build and host
your MOOC

11. Badges? Do we need stinkin’ badges?!?
Badges are a great way to drive affinity, recognize skills, and socially amplify accomplishments

12. Sales Force Trailhead example

13. Badging options

14. Thank you!