Summary of Course
The MOOC on MOOCs course was designed to consolidate much of the information on this novel course format, while also engaging participants in some design principles of the course format and delivery mechanisms. The aims and objectives focused on providing information to participants on a range of topics that would furnish participants with a degree of knowledge in pursuit of designing or enrolling in MOOCs in future. This latter point is important and distinct from the focus of conventional xMOOCs which tend to replicate the university experience and provide courses for personal interest.
The focus on application in the MOOC on MOOCs course may push participants to design their own MOOC. This links back to the paradigm of MOOCs for Development cited at the beginning of the report. If MOOCs are to serve large learning populations with a focus on improving livelihoods through agriculture or healthcare, for example, then courses such as MoM should provide pointed information that participants can apply to their area of expertise. In this sense, MOOCs should not be compartmentalized as fitting only within the realm of higher education, nor should they be only confined to be delivered over sophisticated computer technologies (see Mobile for Malis course identified in the subsection Origin of the MOOC on MOOCs Course).
The presentation of content is also unique. Drawing on disciplines from education, computer science, and sustainable development, the course appeals to a wide range of learners. Few will arrive at the course having been exposed to the depth and breadth of information provided in the MoM course.
The mooKIT platform can be characterized as highly intuitive for both content designers and for users. The architecture is based on open source software and is customizable. The added value of the platform’s CMS is low demand on the server. In regards to the LMS, the platform facilitates an interface design that is intuitive and easy to navigate. Participants can readily verify their progress (i.e., what video lectures have been viewed) and can collect feedback from their peers. For the MoM course, the designers enabled multiple channels for interaction.
Overall, COL and IIT-Kanpur should be commended in regards to designing a course and an entirely new platform with the external funding received. Yet, again, it remains unclear what dollar amount can be properly calculated for the time spent on the MoM course by the course development team and the support team.
The ensuing section focuses on implementation and explores how instructors and participants engaged with the MoM course.
