From OER to MOOCs: An Evolutionary Analysis and Its Neoliberal Context

Well before the MOOC, there was something quite similar without the popularity. It was called the Open Educational Resource (OER) movement. This chapter endeavours to delineate the intricate lineage of MOOCs, paying homage to its antecedent, the OER. By charting its evolutionary course, we gain insights into the expansive growth, nuances, and multifaceted dimensions of various MOOCs. Research into MOOCs is vast; however, critiques are very slim. Understandably, how could someone critique such a good thing? Well, as MOOCs started changing, so did their interests, and this chapter aims to highlight that such changes are consistent with the forces of global Neoliberalism.