Making MOOCs

What does it take to make a MOOC? Explore the Grow-your-own MOOC kit here

Grow-your-own MOOC kit

Completion options

Key questions:  What will you provide to participants as evidence of their participation or completion? 

MOOCs can experience a large number of sign-ups compared to actual participation and completion rates. Measures for success of a MOOC need to be considered more broadly than these traditional completion markers, as participants of an open course may have participated in a way that was useful for them, without completing a formal series of activities.

A.

Authentic, real-world

Activities are encouraged to be shared  in real world situations, offline in communities, or by interacting with existing online communities.

B.

Participant-driven outcomes

Participants are encouraged to set their own goals and outcomes as the initial part of signing up to the course. If these were shared in the site, it could be possible to map common themes and expectations and address these as the course progresses.

C.

Self-serve certificates

There are third party certification, often free, portfolio and content aggregation tools that allow participants to collect evidence and self-certify their course participation.

D.

Quizzes

Enable self-knowledge checking, could be participant-built

E.

Peer-awarded badges

Portable open badges to symbolise meeting outcomes of course. Due to large participant numbers having peers able to reward a badge once they receive it, is a useful way to avoid being unable to facilitate badge awarding. Needs rubric/guide to assist participants to make judgement on quality if not just based on completion.

F.

Platform-generated completions

Auto-generated based on completion and/or minimum score.

G.

Authenticated completions

Usually where there is formal partnership for developing a MOOC on a platform as extensive as an learning management system, because this requires authenticating the identity of the participant and proctoring of activities in some way.

H.

Credit for coursework

Participation in a MOOC as an entry pathway to formal courses is becoming easier to facilitate, but does require authenticated completions. This is still an emerging area with technical and policy challenges.