There are a number of MOOCs beginning within the next month or so that are related to e-learning and/or educational technologies. These offer a great opportunity to explore resources put together by experts in these fields. If you’ve been thinking about teaching an online class, integrating more technology into your face-to-face course, or have been concerned about accessibility of your materials on the web, there may be an upcoming MOOC that interests you.
What is a MOOC?
MOOC stands for “massive open online course.” According to The Chronicle of Higher Education:
“MOOCs are classes that are taught online to large numbers of students, with minimal involvement by professors. Typically, students watch short video lectures and complete assignments that are graded either by machines or by other students. That way a lone professor can support a class with hundreds of thousands of participants.”
It’s important to remember that what you get out of a MOOC is entirely up to you. Perhaps you enroll in the course and just explore provided resources. Perhaps you only watch a video or two. Or, it may be something you have a great passion for, and you could complete all of the assignments.
Upcoming MOOCs
Descriptions are listed as provided by each course. Keep in mind that people often sign up for MOOCs “late” and catch up, so if the start date has passed, don’t feel it’s too late to get involved. Click on the title of the MOOC for more information and to register.
E-learning and Digital Cultures
This course will explore how digital cultures and learning cultures connect, and what this means for the ways in which we conduct education online. The course is not about how to ‘do’ e-learning; rather, it is an invitation to view online educational practices through a particular lens – that of popular and digital culture. Follow this course on Twitter at #edcmooc. (Nov 3-Dec 7)
Performance Assessment in the Virtual Classroom
Performance and Assessment in the Virtual Classroom explores the myths and challenges of assessing performance virtually. Topics include effective measures of assessing students, compliance issues, feedback models for students, online gradebook functions, and data analysis. (Nov 10-Dec 15)
Design & Development of Educational Technology
This project-based course explores educational technologies and the theories underlying their development through interviews with experts in the field. (Began Oct 8)
Web Accessibility MOOC for Online Educators
Many eLearning educators are under-prepared to deal with web accessibility issues. This free MOOC, sponsored by Portland Community College and D2L, provides a free professional development opportunity to help eLearning professionals meet the challenges of addressing accessibility in online learning. (Oct 20-Nov 22)