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MOOCs and AI
Debate Topic Overview
The Massively Growing Empire of Artificial Intelligence and MOOCs: The Good and Evil of
Technology in Higher Education
Sarah Athearn
School of Education, Liberty University
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MOOCs and AI
The Massively Growing Empire of Artificial Intelligence and MOOCs : The Good and Evil
of Technology in Higher Education
Abstract
The start of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have forever change the direction
of traditional and academic freedom. Traditional academic freedom for several hundred years has
been tied up inside the walls of an institution and to regimented according to X, Y, and Z.
MOOCs can take the education beyond an institution’s 4 or 24 walls and into the living rooms of
Americans. As anything new and progressive, MOOCs brings a plethora of new challenges to the
programs’ credibility and future and current employment of the degree seeker and degree teacher,
but ultimately MOOCs bring accessibility and in many cases affordability. The use of artificial
intelligence is on the forefront of this revolutionary classroom, opening a wave of new
opportunities for the working American.
