Social interaction inside the cMOOC #ExIF13: Adaptive e-learning in distance education on a new track!?

This paper revolves around the question of what potentials a cMOOC as adaptive e-learning system with social interaction offers for distance education. Answers are suggested by looking at the cMOOC “Discover the Island of Research” (#ExIF13) presented by FernUniversität in Hagen in the summer semester 2013. Five potentials are shown (supplementing educational television characterized by mass media with feedback channels based on social media; establishing sustainable networks; adaptivity of the individual learning processes through using the long tail filter of social media; diversifying competence through peer education; peer production and distribution of educational resources).