What is a MOOC?
Résumé
The word MOOC is used for on-line teaching platforms as well as for the courses available on these platforms. Since the first MOOC, released in 2012, a huge number of new courses have been proposed on these platforms and MOOCs have gained a large amount of attention from governments and universities all around the world. The purpose of the proposed communication is to present some of these platforms and courses and to describe which innovative and interesting practices are used in them. Several examples of the way the lessons are organized (between videos, quizzes and courses) will be discussed, making an effort to focus mainly on statistics courses. I will also explain and describe how the progresses of all learners are synchronized, using deadlines for due work, reminder emails, forums and wikis for cooperative work. The different options provided by several courses and platforms will be described and their respective advantages/drawbacks discussed in order to provide an analysis of what can help workers wanting to get involved in a lifelong learning process.