A total of 16 MOOCs will be developed by 15 Universities, not only from Europe but also from North and South America. The MOOCS serve as examples and best practices for the targeted 4000 selected teachers. They will be invited to actively participate on the ECO platform and create their own MOOC. Very similar to that of an ECO-system in learning, becoming a leading platform in a few years time for Massive Open, Ubiquitous Learning. What does this really implicate for the teacher? The product of this collaboration of universities, tech partners and partners in communication are the 16 base-MOOCs, a set of modules organized in 5 different overall topics:
1. COMMON COURSE
2. e-learning
3. Digital literacy
4. Arts and Creativity
5. Computing and math
Ms. Sünne Eichler of Eichler Beratung is responsible for MOOC which will designed and set up 100% for a German target audience. A lot of responsibility to grow the MOOC eco-system in a country that has warmly embraced digital and distance learning.
Can you please tell us more about the content of the German ECO-MOOC you will be launching November next?
“The ECO-MOOC is about E-Learning project management at schools. In Germany some schools
are using already E-Learning and there are a lot of initiatives to support teachers. But very
often they are not sure about the way to handle the project. That is why we are focusing with
this MOOC on E-Learning project management.”
What is the target group of your MOOC?
“Our target group are teachers from any type and size of schools. And we address additionally
student teachers and students qualifying for teaching.”
What can you tell us about the general use of MOOCs in Germany?
“MOOCs are quite popular in Germany offered by some universities and institutions such as
Hasso Plattner Institut, Potsdam. But even companies are starting organizing own MOOC –
mostly in the way of SPOC (small private online course).”
After the launch of your MOOC, will you be promoting the module somewhere in the next
few months?
“Yes, sure. We are working very close with teacher organisations, the state ministries for
education and some universities. And of course we will promote the MOOC in the press and
new media channels.”
What do you think would be the main hurdle for your target audience teachers to embrace the MOOC ideology?
“I think, the most important hurdle could be a technical one: we have to offer easy access to the MOOC and a very good usability. Spare time could be the second hurdle, but we organized that MOOC in a way that offers a maximum of flexibility and a good value of input. The investment of time is about 1-2 hours per week.”
What other MOOC modules would you like to see spring from your e-learning project management?
“I would like to dive deeper into the topics learner motivation and stakeholder management. If we can broaden the MOOC in that way, it would very very helpul for the teachers.”
What is in it for teachers to participate and actually create their own MOOC?
“For teachers the MOOC has three main benefits:
he /she is getting used to new ways of learning by using a MOOC
he /she is receiving state of the art knowledge on E-Learning project management
he /she can exchange ideas with experts and other teachers.”
