MOOC the Nor-wayFramlegg på Transatlantic week, Washington DC, 12. november 2013

Bent KureSenior advisor

University of Oslobent.kure@usit.uio.no

• Senior Advisor at Applied Learning Technology Group (DML-gruppen), University of Oslo

• Special interest: ICT and digital media in teaching and learning

CONTACT:• bent.kure@usit.uio.no• Twitter: @bentk• Facebook: bent.kure

This presentation

Part 1FlexPhil – a real Norwegian MOOC

Part 2Challenges

Part 3Some implications for teaching and learning

Part 1FlexPhil – a real Norwegian MOOC

Examen Philosophicum

• Examen Philosophicum, called “Exphil”, is a mandatory introductory course in philosophy that was introduced at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark-Norway's only university, in 1675.

• Its still mandatory• The course consists of history of philosophy and

science, and ethics.

At present there are two different courses available:

• The ordinary course, called “The seminar course”, with lectures, mandatory seminars, essay writing and guidance, supervision or monitoring. 2500 students a year. Failure rate is less than 5 %

• The self study course. Very briefly: The students can read the textbook and then take the exam. Autumn 2012: 1500 registered, many dropouts and 237 passed the exam

• And therefore…a MOOC

The way to FlexPhil

• Spring 2012: Exphil coordinator Aksel Øijord and the DML-group developed the idea of transforming the self study course into a MOOC.

• Des. 2012: 150.000 US-dollars from NUV• Feb. 2013: Kick-off • Feb. – Des 2013: Development and production• Pilot: Jan. 2014• First ordinary course: Aug. 2014

Plato•10 videos•10 Quiz•Readings•More…

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Course structure – 15 modules/weeks

Aristotles•10 videos•10 Quiz•Readings•More…

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Descartes•10 videos•10 Quiz•Readings•More…

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Hume•10 videos•10 Quiz•Readings•More…

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Kant•10 videos•Quiz•Readings•More…

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•Physics•10 videos•10 Quiz•Readings•More…

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Biology•10 videos•10 Quiz•Readings•More…

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TBeauvoir•10 videos•10 Quiz•Readings•More…

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Ethics•10 videos•10 Quiz•Readings•More…

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Ethics•10 videos•10 Quiz•Readings•More…

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Ethics•10 videos•10 Quiz•Readings•More…

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Ethics•10 videos•10 Quiz•Readings•More…

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(example)

The student can also work with…

• Participate in ordinary lectures if they are in Oslo• Participate in online discussion• Write small assignments and get peer review • Take the quizzes together - using Adobe Connect or

Skype• Use an App on their smart phone to compete against

each other • “Ask the Oracle in Delphi”

FlexPhil

Why FlexPhil?Three main arguments

• To improve the Self Study Course by offering good and effective learning resources

• More students will pass and reduce the failure rate• Learning resource for ordinary Exphil students

Benefits for UiO

• Increased recruitment to UiO• The concept and methodology can refine and

improve campus teaching and learning• We need to test and explore new teaching and

learning tools• Better reputation/credibility for UiO, putting efforts

into students learning environment• Big data -> New research possibilities > Better

teaching and learning

Part 2Challenges

From my point of view working with FlexPhil

Institutional challenges -culture and ability to change

• MOOC was a unknown concept at the university in general• The IT department/DML-group had a lot of competent people,

but no experience in actual building a MOOC• How to allocate internal resources?• How to implement new concepts in a complex organization with

many stakeholders• How to make a MOOC for the Facebook generation, without

coming in conflict with the academic culture?

• At the Institute of philosophy we met a lot of positivity

The student challenge

• Who are in the target group and what are their needs?

• What is the best way for MOOC-students to work with the subject matter?

• What media and tools are they familiar with• How to make an exciting and meaningful course for

digital natives and Facebook users?

The mediapedagogical challenge

• How to teach and communicate the subject matter?• How to build the MOOC with the right tools and good

functionality?• Mandatory TEST to advance to next module?• Which technical platform should we use?• Should the course run without any participation from

teachers?

Part 3Implications for teaching and

learning

In what way has the MOOC-wave hit Norway?

I conducted a simple survey two weeks ago..

.. and got info about several so called MOOC initiatives

MOOC – Initiatives in Norway Planning: + Production: ++ Running: +++

BIBSYS

Offer the Canvas MOOC-platform for free

University of Oslo•What Works? International Development +•Flexphil  ++

NTNU (900 part.)•Technology and societal change +++

Lillehammer University (2000 part.)

Life Long learning web. For teachers. +++

Molde University College•10 courses in mathematics +++

Norwegian Center for Tele Medicine•Lot of courses related to health +++

UMB + BI + others•Mooc in mathematics +

University of Bergen  •Natural Resources Management ++

Østfold University College:•ICT for teachers ++

The Arctic University, UIT•Artic related subjects ++

University in Agder• Strategy and success ++

Nord-Trøndelag University College•About birds +++

Norwegian international MOOCs

Why? •Branding•Development policy •Recruit students and potential researcher•Added value for ordinary students

Which MOOC platform or provider?

•Coursera

•EdX

•The European Iversity?

•Our own?

Centre for Development and Environment at the University of Oslo • “What works” by Research Director Dan Banik• About successful interventions aimed at reducing

poverty and promoting economic, social and human development.

• Partners will be:- Stanford University- China Agricultural University- University of Malawi - NORAD - The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation

International MOOCs be used in Higher Education in Norway?

• How can integrate MOOCs into our curriculum, as we do with text books?

• Is it legal?• What kind of arrangements are needed with different

MOOC owners?• Can we ask them to start a MOOC when we want?• Can we make the MOOC mandatory for our

students? Can we give credits?• Can the teacher in Norway reduce the number of

own lectures - Flipped education?

Driving forces – Drivers of change

Which force will have the strongest influence?

Higher Education

Political

Economical

Socio-cultural

Technology

Environmental

Legal

Internal forces

Thanks a lot!

Contact info•bent.kure@usit.uio.no•Phone: + 47 90 99 18 90•Facebook: bent.kure•Facebook group about MOOC