If you do a bit of research on this, you'll find that the defining characteristics are embedded in the name - MOOC is a "massive, open, online course". So, by being "massive" and "open" it is automatically differentiated from an online course in general. Having said that, some universities do offer MOOCs (and obviously some non-university organizations off them - which may be a separate criterion that interests you based on your  question).

 Thanks, Laura, Is there any specific difference in educational quality or instructional design?

Thanks, Harshvardhan Singh.

Hi Ayesha,

as Laura mentions, the MOOC definition and name, shows its diference with a short online course.

Singh shares some features of MOOCs and online courses, although an online course, could be enhanced through collaborative work and many other tasks, they are different from MOOCs in many aspects, that you could see by yourself while participating in a MOOC and participating in a short (or long) online course. 

Martina shares also these two papers that can give a good reference about this difference.

In summary, MOOCs usually let you learn in a flexible way, while a short online course in an educational institution, you need to fullfill a curricular frame set of requirements. 

Let us revise papers these professors generously share with us and keep learning about this interesting topic you posed.

All the best!

Irma de Jesús

 Thanks Martina Gaisch and Irma de Jesús Miguel Garzón.

you've got some good responses, but I think Singh has a limited definition of online courses, and I can point to a number of online courses that don't fit Singh's description.

Hi Raymond,

i agree with you, tht is why i said 

"Singh shares some features of MOOCs and online courses, although an online course, could be enhanced through collaborative work and many other tasks, they are different from MOOCs in many aspects"

please tell us more about  online courses features, Singh does not mention. So we can learn more about this topic.

Thank you in advance for your next contribution

Deal All

The main deference is the “massive”.

Normal online courses is always have limitation in the registered users.

Regards

Irma:

There are many different approaches to the think called "online courses."  First let's focus on fully online -- because there's no clear definition for blended/hybrid.   With fully online -- synchronous or asynchronous -- one or both.  With asynchronous, fully (aka self-paced) or scheduled (aka cohort).  

Then within each of those options are subtle differences so, there's not one, two, or even a dozen approaches to online learning, and each should have it's own pedagogy.  If all anyone is trying to do is replicate face-to-face instruction then look for trash.  BTW, are we sure that the current F2F approaches are the best for learning?  (quick answer -- not necessarily.)

Quick and somewhat generalized Course design options.  Teacher as expert and in the center.  Teacher as guide on the side, and students learn by sharing and talking with each other guided by teacher.  Teacher creates the "book" and students follow it (self-paced)  

What about differences when doing synchronous, and what are the different technologies that can be used within this broad category.

Anyone that paints online learning with a single brush is showing a lack of understanding of the field.  They may know a particular approach/pedagogy.  And then when they talk about their experience they'd better identify that approach, and not talk in generalities, because I can probably find a counter example from a different pedagogy.  

hope that helps

ray

Thanks Raymond Rose, finally someone with an understanding of the variety within online education exactly as there is a variety within moocs. So what new moocs are doing apart from just open sign ups???