Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are all the rage in the media where it concerns the future of higher education.  So far, I don’t see it!  The retention rates are abysmal and there is no evidence that this delivery method is improving student learning.   I am all for transforming learning outcomes through technology but I just don’t see how MOOCs are accomplishing that right now.

I suggest that we create POOCs (Personalized Open Online Courses).  POOCs would combine actual intelligence with artificial intelligence to tailor the learning experience based on the student’s ability to comprehend the subject matter.  While the course would be more difficult to build, the outcomes would be greatly improved over the MOOC or even traditional pedagogy. 

I envision with the POOC that the student would start a lecture and would be frequently queried to see how well they understood the material.  Based on their responses, additional instruction from the faculty member would be played to the student to enhance the subject matter.  Many decisions and forks in the lecture would take place based on how well the student is comprehending the material until the desired learning outcome is achieved.

To develop this type of instruction, the instructor would need to develop lecture modules around specific concepts in varying levels of detail.  If a concept can be explained in multiple ways, each way would need to be accounted for.  Additionally, outside links and references could be used to give the student different paths to the learning objective. The course engine would need to be able to recognize the concepts that need further explaining/development for the student and present those options at the appropriate times. 

POOCs would require refining after the initial development.  I see the POOC engine collecting data on each student so that it can be analyzed to enhance the course (continual process improvement).  The POOC engine would analyze quiz results and pair students for additional peer led learning.  A student weak in one concept may be paired with another who is strong at that concept.  Online faculty hours could be spent reinforcing concepts a student is having difficulty with by using collaboration tools. 

While the MOOCs may be a way of introducing knowledge to the masses, I see the POOC as a way of ensuring each student gets the most out of the experience.

Comments and feedback welcome.