The document discusses best practices for designing MOOCs, focusing on preparation, content development, resources, drop-out rates, and learning outcomes. It emphasizes the shift from traditional education to digital learning spaces, highlighting the importance of technology as an enabler of learning. Key considerations include management support, team development, and effective course design to enhance learner engagement and success.

1. Best Practices in Designing your
MOOC Classes
Dr. David Asirvatham
Director of Information Technology
University of Malaya

2. Agenda
 Introduction to UM
 MOOC and Globalisation
 MOOC Framework
 Best Practices: How to cook a MOOC?
#1: Preparation for MOOC
#2: MOOC Content Development Process
#3: Resources & Cost
#4: Drop-out rate
#5: Focusing on Learning
Summary
2

3. • Located in Kuala Lumpur
• 1st in Malaysia
• 3rd in South East Asia
• 29th in Asia
• 146th in the world
Introduction to University of Malaya
3

4. Facts and Figures
12 Faculties
2 Academies
6 Institutes
5 Centres
8 Research Clusters
Faculties & Academies
Medicine
Science
Engineering
Economics & Administration
Business & Accountancy
Education
Languages & Linguistics
Law
Sport
Dentistry
Computer Science & IT
Arts & Social Sciences
Islamic Studies
Malay Studies
Total no of Students ~ 27,000
Undergraduates ~ 13,000
Postgraduates ~ 12,000
International ~ 3,000
Total No of Staff ~ 6,000
Academic ~ 2,500
Non-Academic ~ 3,500
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5. MOOC and Globalisation
5

6. Globalisation of Education
Globalisation puts continuous pressure on the educational system to
explore and to do better
After K12, many students explore the possibility of doing a degree
outside their country
Global citizen
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7. Universities in a globalised world
Universities are expanding to serve beyond their
boundaries.
Governments promote globalization of universities
for economic gains
Greater Competition
Universities want to achieve world class status
Universities want to create top-tier research
Compete for the best students globally
7

8. Classrooms to Digital Learning Space
8

9. Yesterday vs Today
9

10. Chalk-and-talk has long
ruled the classrooms
o will not be eliminated
o Less emphasis
Interactive Digital Content
o greater emphasis on MOOC
o on demand learning
o networked Learning
MOOC, e-Learning and Blended Approach
10

11. Traditional vs MOOC
11
Traditional Lecture
MOOC
Traditional vs MOOC

12. MOOC is a course
 Start and End Time
 Video Lectures
 Assignments & group work
 Projects
 Discussions and Forums
 Reading materials
 Assessments
 Certification
12

13. Growth of MOOC
Source: https://www.edsurge.com
13
Why MOOC is growing in popularity?

14. Disruptive Technology
Every few years a new disruptive technology emerges, i.e. something that
fundamentally changes the way we do things (Christensen 1997). The Internet,
mobile devices and even Virtual Learning Environments are all examples.
Is MOOC the next Disruptive Technology for education?
MOOC is disruptive alternative to traditional education
(McAuley et al. 2010)
MOOC is a disruptive trend in education, especially in Higher Education and
lifelong learning (Hyman, 2012), (Yuan, 2013).
14

15. To MOOC or not to MOOC, is no longer a question to
ask; How to MOOC better is a more relevant
question to ask.
MOOCs are very demanding compared to traditional
courses content development
(Alario-Hoyos et al. 2014)
15
To MOOC or not to MOOC?

16. Best Practices:
MOOC Platforms
Which Platform should you adopt?
 Popular and large number of learners
 Marketing considerations
 Charges for hosting?
 Technical knowledge of the platform
 Support
16

17. The Big Three: Coursera, Udacity and Edx
17
Coursera Udacity edX
• Biggest catalog.
• The best of the discussion
forums
• Large number of partners
• Fee-based verified
certificates
• Start anytime.
• Move at your own pace
• Caters to self-directed
students
• Lots of IT Courses
• More focus on current on
workplace skills.
• Big catalog
• Great for the sciences and
medicine
• Large number of partners
• Fee-based verified
certificates

18. Who are your learners?
18

19. How to cook a MOOC?
Best Practices
19

20. MOOC Recipe: The Ingredients and Process
20
Preparation
MOOC Preparation
Identify Professor
Identify Course
Identify potential
Market
Business Proposal
Business Objectives
Support of Top Mgt.
Scope of work
Budget
Appro
val?
Content Design and Development
Course Design
Course Objectives
Course Design
Gather Material
Research/Review
Content Production
Assignments/Projects
Quizzes
References/Links
Reading Materials
Video Production
Video Recording
Video Editing
Transcript
Quality Review
Course Deployment
Run Course
Start & End Date
Instructors
Forums, Q&A
Survey
Assessment
Quiz/Project/etc.
Grading
Verification
Record Grades
Certification
Met Goals
Digital Certificate
Fee
Marketing
Social Media
MOOC Lists
Websites
Budget

21. Preparation
21
Preparation
MOOC Preparation
Identify Professor
Identify Course
Identify potential
Market
Business Proposal
Business Objectives
Support of Top Mgt.
Scope of work
Budget

22. Challenge #1: MOOC Preparation
 Preparation for MOOC
 Identify the SME (Professors)
 Which course? Demand? Global Interest?
 Business Model? Sustainable model?
 Support from top management
 Identify the Platform (Coursera, edX, Udacity, iVersity, etc.)
 Time: 100 hours per course (Kolowich, 2013)
 Budget
 About US$50K per course
 Marketing Plan
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23. MOOC Fundamental Concepts
Many researchers agree that more research and experimentation
about the design of MOOCs is required [McAuley et al., 2010], [Ostashewski
and Reid, 2012]
Two existing perspective: xMOOC and cMOOC [Siemens, 2012a]
xMOOC: adopt a cognitive-behaviorist lecture and knowledge
dissemination pedagogical approach similar to that of traditional
face-to-face
cMOOCs: follow a more connectivist learning approach, where
knowledge is found in the connections between people, and learning
is the development and traversal of those connections
23

24. MOOC: Development of Business and Design
Models
The increase interest on MOOCs opens up opportunities
for exploring new online pedagogies and business models
in education (Kolowich, 2012), (Martin, 2012).
Designing and running a MOOC from scratch involves
several issues of logistical, technological, pedagogical and
financial nature that educators must face (McAuley et al., 2010).
24

25. MOOC Framework
The MOOC Canvas is a simple and visual framework for
educators that need to design a MOOC from scratch.
The MOOC Canvas is inspired by the ideas and structure
of the Business Model Canvas [Osterwalder and Pigneur, 2010], but
gathering the main issues of logistical, technological,
pedagogical and financial nature that educators need to
think of during the design of a MOOC
25

26. MOOCBusinessModel
[OsterwalderandPigneur,2010]
26

27. MOOC Canvas Framework
[Osterwalder and Pigneur, 2010]
A total of 11 issues are addressed:
 Available Resources Category:
 Human Resources
 Intellectual resources
 Equipment (hardware and software resources
 Platform
 Design Decisions Category:
 General Description: Course name, duration and field/area
 Target learners
 Pedagogical approaches ((knowledge dissemination, connectivism, project-based
learning, case-based learning, collaborative learning, active learning, etc.)
 Objectives and competencies pursued with the course
 Learning contents that will be delivered
 Assessment activities employed
 Complementary technologies that will support the MOOC
27

28. MOOCCanvasFramework
(Alario-Hoyosetal.2014)
28

29. 29

30. Content Design and Development
30
Content Design and Development
Course Design
Course Objectives
Course Design
Gather Material
Research/Review
Content Production
Assignments/Projects
Quizzes
References/Links
Reading Materials
Video Production
Video Recording
Video Editing
Transcript
Quality Review

31. Challenge #2: MOOC Content Development
Do you know what it takes?
Do you know how long it take to develop a MOOC
Course?
To design a course may take 6-12 months
 Cost: US$50K
31

32. 32
MOOC Content includes:
Video lecture
Activities
Assessment
Online instructions
Peer assessment, etc.
MOOC Content

33. 33
MOOC Content Development:
It is a team effort

34. MOOC Content Design and Development
Course
Preparation
Learning
Goals
Organise
materials
Prepare
Scenarios
(activities)
Prepare proposal
for scenes
Review materials
Develop Digital
Content
Review &
Refine
Pilot
(Test with Students)
Questionnaire
(Feedback)AnalysisRevise
34

35. Course Preparation
1. Understand MOOC
2. Preview some MOOC Courses
3. Identify development team
4. Title & topics to be covered
5. Pre-requisite
6. Determine study duration
35

36. Learning Goals
1.Determine target audience (young students, adult, researchers)
2.Determine Learning Goals (What is to be achieved by students?)
3.Divide into topics and sub-topics (Learning Objects - LO)
4.Determine the learning goals for each LO
5.Each LO should be about 3-7 min.
36

37. Organise the materials
1. List LOs
2.Determine sequence of the LO
3.Prepare materials for each LO:
• Select tools, pictures, diagrams, powerpoint slides, etc.
4.Assignment, projects, Quiz, etc
5. Review the goals for each LO. Is it achievable?
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38. Prepare Scenarios
• Create the storyboard
• Determine activities for the LO
• Activities:
• Problem Solving
• Case Study – Video?
• Brainstorm - Discussion?
• Cognitive – Reflecting?
• Coaching – Peer feedback?
38

39. Prepare Scenarios
Light Angle of incidence (Animation)
Angle of reflection (Video)
…….
Laws of refraction
(LO2 – Goals)
5 min
Laws of reflection
(LO1 – Goals)
4 min
Refractive index (Problem Solving)
Critical angle (Experiment)
…….
39

40. Prepare Scenarios
Law of Reflection
40

41. Prepare the specific scenes:
Animation or video scenes
1. Prepare the scene on paper
2. Draw sketches of your scene
3. Indicate sequence of animation
4. Prepare narration/script/subtitles
5. Emphasis on important items
6.Keep it simple
41

42. Review Materials
1. Review your materials
2. Ensure the learning takes place
3. Is there a better way to achieve the goals?
4. Consider the likely questions that the student
might ask - Have you addressed it?
5. Get a committee (or another SME) to review materials
42

43. Develop Digital Content
1. Create the scene using the various software
2. Select a template/theme (background)
3.Draw graphics/edit pictures/animations – multimedia staff
4. Video shooting – Studio, Cameraman,
5. Record the narration (VO talent)
6. Video editing (include scene, scripts, etc.)
7. The final format – follow platform requirements.
8. Assignments, quiz, projects – use platform (e.g. edX)
43

44. Review & Refine
1. Review your digital content
2. Content in context?
3. Is the picture/animation/audio/video in context?
4. Is there a better way to represent the context?
5. Modify if necessary
6. Check the quality of audio, video, picture, etc.
7. Check download time (break up if necessary)
44

45. Pilot Test & Feedback
Conduct a pilot test with student
They need to go through all the materials
Provide a feedback form/survey
45

46.  Analyse the feedback
 Take corrective actions
 Ready for deployment
46
Analyse, Revise and Deploy

47. Challenge #3: Resources (Incl. Cost)
MOOC is expensive to create
Average: US$50,000
Resources and Man-power: 100 hours per course
Do you have the experts? Hire?
47

48. Challenge #4: High Drop Out Rate
MOOC course can experience 80-90% drop out
rate
This is expected in most open learning environment
 How to reduce drop-out rate?
Pre-requisite / basic knowledge
Charge a small fee
Certification
Highly interactive course
Course or topics that has high demand
48

49. Challenge #5: Focus on Learning
 Not Technology, but how we “learn” is important
 Focus on learning outcomes
 Technology should be the “enabler”
 Technology should make it better, fast and cheaper
to learn
 Do it and improve it
49

50. Course Deployment
50
Course Deployment
Run Course
Start & End Date
Instructors
Forums, Q&A
Survey
Assessment
Quiz/Project/etc.
Grading
Verification
Record Grades
Certification
Met Goals
Digital Certificate
Fee
Marketing
Social Media
MOOC Lists
Websites
Budget

51. COURSERA: MOOC course developed by UM
https://class.coursera.org/coachingteachers-001/lecture/11
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52. Summary: Key considerations when
developing content
1. Get top management support
2. Governance – simple structure to develop & monitor the
project
3. Form a development team
4. Training for the team
5. Identify the skills required for each stage of development
6. Commitment: workload, incentives, motivation, etc.
7. Facilities: studio, video editing, audio recording, etc.
8. Collaborate with other universities/college/partners.
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53. THANK YOU
Terima Kasih
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54. Opinion Poll
https://b.socrative.com/login/student/
Room: KELANA
1. Who will resist most in adopting MOOC?
 Students
 Administrators
 Lecturers
2. In future, there will be more degree programmes offered via MOOC?
 Agree
 Not Sure
 Disagree
3. Will MOOC be a threat to universities?
 Agree
 Not Sure
 Disagree
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