Piercing the Veil: A Critical Examination of MOOC Ideologies

The final chapter sheds light on the last two steps of Foss’s (Rhetorical criticism: Exploration and practice. Waveland Press, 2009) ideological criticism method while providing insight into the ideological content of the four MOOC websites. By meticulously clustering the presented and suggested elements thematically, we unveil an ideology, a dominant theme that resonates profoundly with the various elements underpinning these MOOCs. Illustrating this approach, the juxtaposition of preferred and presented elements against our suggested themes is laid out in a comprehensive table, capturing the essence of the findings (refer to Table 9.1). From there, a comparative lens brings the narratives of each case study into sharp focus (see Table 9.2). This chapter examines the alignment of these MOOCs with neoliberal principlesNeoliberal Principles, casting them within the context of a burgeoning historic bloc, as delineated in Chapter  3 . The discourse culminates in a critical re-envisioning of the archetype of ‘good’ education, championing the cultivation of a robust cadre of organic intellectuals through a ‘philosophy of praxis’ (as articulated by Gramsci, 1971) of supporting the development of greater organic intellectuals through a ‘philosophy of praxis’.