This paper describes a case study of how MOOCs have been reported through the Irish media. A brief description of previous research on the portrayal of MOOCs in the international media is outlined and the unique Irish story is then presented framed around a number of overarching research questions: Who is telling the MOOC story and why? What story is being told? How is the story being told? Whose story is not being told? Specifically the study investigates how the MOOC phenomenon has been portrayed in Irish newspapers. A brief description of the research design is given before reporting key findings, which include a number of interesting developments in the Irish context. In telling the Irish story the paper contributes to the wider debate over the long-term future of open and online learning in the higher education landscape. The key lesson arising from the research is that the MOOC movement is not on an independent trajectory, as it needs to be understood as part of social practice.

1. MOOCs in the News
The ‘Real’ Story
Behind the Irish Story
Mark.brown@dcu.ie
Eamon.costello@dcu.ie
Enda.donlon@dcu.ie
Mairead.nighiollamichil@dcu.ie
28th April 2016 – Global Learn Conference, Limerick

2. Dublin City University
• National Institute for Digital Learning
• Research and Development
• EU projects: Home and SCORE2020

3. “A story is never just a
story – it is a statement of
belief and of morality”
(Pinar, 2014).
MOOCs in the News
Pinar, W. (2014). Curriculum: Toward new identities. London: Routledge.

4. Why?
“The National Strategy for Higher Education recommends
that if Ireland is to raise levels of lifelong learning and
higher education attainment, more is needed in terms of
increased flexibility and innovation, broader routes of
access and a model of funding that supports all
students equally, regardless of mode or duration of
study” (HEA, 2012, p.6).

5. What we know

7. http://www.onlinecoursereport.com/state-of-the-mooc-2016-a-year-of-massive-landscape-change-for-massive-open-online-courses/

10. • Who is telling the MOOC story?
• What story is being told?
• How is the story being told?
• Whose story is not being told?
• Whose interests are being served
by the story?
Research Questions

11. About the Study
• Methodology
• Media Sources
• Discourse Analysis Protocol
- 20 Analysis Items
- Descriptive | Interpretative
- Revolutionary | Evolutionary
- Major Drivers

12. n = 77

13. 97%
3%
Type of Reporting
Descriptive
Investigative

14. 2%
20%
78%
Stance Adopted
Negative
Neutral
Positive

15. Revolution
35%
Evolution
18%
Minimal
12%
Not Stated
35%
Level of Disruption

16. Elite
73%
Non Elite
27%
Institutional Status

18. Completionrates
MOOCLab (2016) UK MOOC Report
http://www.mooclab.club/Reports/UK%20MOOC%20Report%202016.pdf
Course length

21. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Fear of Missing Out
Institutional Branding
Increase Student Recruitment
Extend Access
Reduce Costs
Generate Revenue
Unbundling of Services
Innovation
Curriculum Renewal
Industry Training
Supporting Student Readiness
Promote Research
Not Stated
Major Drivers

23. Thank you
Questions?