MOOCs and the library: engaging with evolving pedagogy

The emergence of the Massively Open Online Course, or MOOC, has been a topic of considerable analysis and discussion in academic circles in recent years, and is not infrequently mentioned as a disruptive technology in higher education. As Stanford University has been prominent in the development of MOOC platforms, both the university as a whole and the Stanford University Libraries have a particular interest in understanding the potential for and impacts of this platform. This paper briefly outlines the emergence of MOOCs within the context of online learning tools and distance learning, looks at how Stanford University as a whole, and the Stanford Libraries in particular, are integrating these technologies in their pedagogy.