The MOOC: ¿An Alternative Model for Higher Education?

The purpose of this paper consisted in formulate a critical reflection about the MOOC as an emergent educational model, based on the information coming from the specialized literature and from our own experience as a user. We intent answer the following question: What is the real intention and scope of the MOOC as an emergent educational model? That is to say, is really the MOOC a valid alternative to traditional model in higher education? From the literature review we can establish that one of the advantages of this model is the fact that it represents real knowledge democratization for giving the opportunity to open access to knowledge to everyone with the only requirement of having a digital devise connected to Internet, want to learn and have a genuine motivation to do so. However, like any innovation this educational model has supporters and detractors. It is concluded that even when the MOOCs have been supported by important international universities, this model is not a threat for traditional universities; however it is expected that it will seriously impact the actual model of distance education and upon the traditional higher education model and it will induce change on it including those about the roles of its main actors (professor and student) in the educational process.