University of California Berkeley Professor Armando Fox coined the word in 2013 to refer to a localized instance of a MOOC course that was in use in a business-to-business context.
[1] In this regard SPOCs are focused on certain groups of students, which are qualified to take the course and ready to interact with others throughout the learning process.
[3] Early research results point to improved learning and student outcomes using such approaches.
[4] In spring 2013, edX and MITx piloted two blended classroom implementations of 6.00x, Introduction to Computer Science and Programing at Bunker Hill and Mass Bay Community Colleges.
[5] When a SPOC is implemented at an institution, in concert with students, faculty determines which features and course content to utilize.