Stephen Downes

Stephen Downes is best known for being the co-creator of the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) and for teaching Connectivism and Connective Knowledge, the first widely recognized MOOC.  He is also the principal theorist behind Connectivism.  As a professor, Downes openly criticized traditional institutional learning and was a vocal proponent of open educational resources and decentralized learning systems. Downes was a Senior Research Officer for the National Research Council of Canada (NRC).

Major Publications:

• Downes, S. (2005). E-learning 2.0. eLearn, 2005(10), 1. 

• Downes, S. (2012). Connectivism and connective knowledge: Essays on meaning and learning networks. 

• Downes, S. (2007). Models for Sustainable Open Educational Resources. Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects, 3(1), 29-44. Informing Science Institute. 

• Downes, S. (2010). Learning networks and connective knowledge. Collective Intelligence and E-Learning 2.0, 1–26. 

Projects & Innovations:

• First Massive Open Online Course

• gRSShopper

• OLDaily (Online Learning Daily)

Websites: https://www.downes.ca/index.html

Google Scholar

Social Media:

YouTube

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