Implementation of MOOCs for Faculty Development: A Study based on Coordinator's Reflection

One of the outcomes of technological development in the field of education in India can be seen in the form of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), which hold special significance in making access to education possible. At present, MOOCs are reaching people through SWAYAM at various levels such as certificate, diploma, short-term, undergraduate, and postgraduate in the field of higher education, and at the same time, they are also gaining importance as a medium of professional development on a large scale. This research paper explores how MOOCs that are helpful in the professional development of in-service teachers are implemented, and in this regard, the thoughts and experiences of course coordinators have been included. For this research paper, data was collected from coordinators through interviews, which focused on points related to course designing, development, operation, participant involvement, learner engagement, and evaluation. The findings reveal that the role of the course coordinator is crucial in the successful implementation of MOOCs, and they have to face many problems in its operation. In planning the MOOC course, choosing resource persons, developing the content (modules), keeping learners connected with the course, and ensuring course completion, they encounter many challenges. This research paper also attempts to highlight the important strategies adopted by coordinators to deal with these challenges so that other coordinators related to MOOCs at present can get guidance, which they can use to make their MOOCs better and more effective, and at the same time help ensure the quality and sustainability of the proposed MOOCs in the future.