Why a MOOC?

A MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) is a self-paced online course that HBKU offers to the public in strategic partnership with MOOC platforms such as edX. The online courses are open to global learners from various academic backgrounds, cultures, languages, and age groups. All course activities, including lectures, practice sessions, discussions, projects, and assessments are primarily conducted online.

Proposing a MOOC

The Office of the Provost at HBKU provides in-kind support for the development of MOOCs, including support with MOOC content creation, instructional design, media production, course development, and marketing.

We strongly encourage faculty to collaborate across departments and disciplines in the creation of MOOCs. Such collaboration can lead to the development of more comprehensive and interdisciplinary courses, enriching the learning experience for students around the world. It also fosters a sense of community and shared purpose among faculty, enhancing the academic environment at HBKU and Education City.

To learn more about the submission forms and evaluation guidelines, or to explore the possibility of creating a MOOC with your own funding, please contact HBKUx@hbku.edu.qa.

Considerations before undertaking a MOOC

Before you decide to create a MOOC, there are several factors to consider:

Uniqueness

With thousands of open online courses available globally, it's important to ensure your MOOC offers something unique. Conduct searches on your topic and related fields to understand what already exists, what aspects you like or dislike, and how your course can provide a different perspective or approach. Class Central is a useful aggregator site for such searches.

Purpose, Goals, and Audience

Be clear about the purpose of your MOOC and the specific audience you aim to reach. Consider the skills and outcomes you want your learners to achieve by the end of the course or program. As these courses are self-paced and open to a global audience, they need to be designed in a way that is engaging and relevant to your target learners.

MOOC Restrictions

A MOOC is different from a regular university course. As it is open to a global audience, it must adhere to certain restrictions and considerations, including copyright laws and accessibility requirements. While you may be able to repurpose much of your existing content, working with an instructional designer is crucial to ensure the course is effectively structured and pedagogically sound for an online, self-paced learning environment.

Resources and Time

Developing a MOOC is a significant investment of time and resources. The entire process, from initial planning to final review, should not take more than 6 months. It's important to note that the bulk of the time is often spent in the design and content development stages. Therefore, adequate planning and resource allocation are crucial for a successful and timely MOOC development.

Are you interested in creating a MOOC or a Professional Certificate? Contact HBKUx@hbku.edu.qa to find out more on the process and how you can transfer your content ideas into real courses.