UMD MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses)

After EXST’s MOOC Program staff has guided the unit through the initial planning stages and proposal development, the unit submits their proposal via the MOOC Program staff to the MOOC Advisory Board. A version of the proposal (minus some internal UMD requirements) is forwarded to the unit’s chosen MOOC platform(s).

• The MOOC Advisory Board rates the proposal based on MOOC Course Selection Parameters and provides comments and questions via a survey process.
• The MOOC platform(s) reviews the proposal. 
• Feedback, including a potential Board approval, comments, and/or questions are returned to the unit from the MOOC Program Staff. Similarly, feedback from the MOOC platform(s), typically in the form of recommendations, are returned to the unit from the MOOC Program Staff. UMD’s reputation for making high quality MOOCs has not resulted in a MOOC platform’s rejection of a proposal.
• The unit responds to any questions and comments to the MOOC Program staff for distribution and the Board’s approval, which is then communicated to the unit.

The MOOC proposal requires brief yet detailed information about the proposed course including syllabus, target market, instructor capabilities, a sample video, a unit commitment to support the MOOC after its release, and expected campus impact, including how the materials may be used on campus, and how MOOC students might be “converted” to paying UMD students.

The unit’s proposal is distributed to the MOOC Advisory Board for comments. The Board rates the proposal based on MOOC Course Selection Parameters, and responds with any questions which are then addressed by the unit to the Board’s satisfaction. EXST’s MOOC program staff notifies the unit of the Board’s approval determination.

The platform(s) also receives a version of the proposal from EXST’s MOOC program staff and provides comments for the unit’s consideration in development of the MOOC. Feedback may include revenue projections which may be leveraged in the Board’s proposal and approval.

Once approved, the course or series must be partially developed before being marketed and must be substantially completed (including videos and assessments) before being launched. Most traditional MOOCs are designed to run for approximately 4-6 weeks, though some may vary. Developed courses are not offered for academic credit, and instructors are not given teaching release time.

Courses are selected according to the following MOOC Advisory Board criteria, weighted equally:

• Enhance UMD’s reputation. Courses must help the public perceive our excellence – which can be made apparent through a range of course characteristics. Offerings that are likely to appeal to a broad set of learners, demonstrate UMD’s breadth, excellence in pedagogy and clarity of communication and course structure are important elements, as are engagement, fairness of assessments, and relevant and engaging course material.
• Enhance UMD courses. Instructors who have a plan for enhancing their UMD courses (face to face or online) through the use of the MOOC content or analyses will be more highly ranked.
• Student recruitment. MOOCs that are natural entry points to the paying programs, and proposals that have specific plans for recruiting those students will be more highly ranked.
• Be able to run course successfully. Creating and running a successful MOOC requires a significant commitment. These courses require substantially more than recording video lectures. Rather, the material must be broken down into small segments with integrated quizzes and assessments that can be graded automatically (or by peers) with potentially tens of thousands of students. The instructor must have some experience creating videos, and be comfortable with video and online learning technologies. Units are responsible for supporting the course post-launch, and many use revenues generated by the course to do so.
• Measurable learning outcomes. MOOCs must have clear learning outcomes and corresponding assessments that monitor student achievements of learning outcomes.

The following additional characteristics are desirable but not required:

• Course material should be re-used in UMD for-credit courses (in-person or online).
• Efforts that include research in online learning.
• Innovation in course offerings. As MOOCs are continuing to rapidly evolve, it is important that UMD participates in not only delivering online courses, but also in helping to lead in the creation of new ways of offering courses. Thus, innovation in any aspect of a course offering is appreciated, whether it is related to how the course is structured, how assessments are designed, how communities are developed, etc.

A brief but detailed course description is required when submitting the UMD MOOC Proposal to the EXST MOOC program for MOOC Advisory Board approval. Submitters are kept apprised of the proposal’s status at each approval step. Approval steps include the following:

• Initial submission, 
• Board response (typically with clarifications and questions), 
• Proposing unit’s response to the Board’s requests, and
• Board final decision.

Proposal consideration may take up to several weeks from the time the proposal is formally submitted.

MOOC platform selection may include one or both platforms, and is dependent on the unit’s objectives and how the platform(s) may serve those objectives, at the very least at the time of the decision. Many factors may contribute to this decision, including projections the platforms may be asked to provide, a platform’s marketplace performance, the target audience size that the platform caters to, the unit’s desire to target public or private entities, domestically or globally, via enterprises or individual learners, etc.

Platform approvals tend to center on comments from the platform around enhancing the offering so that it doesn’t fully replicate another course on their platform.

Coursera

Coursera provides marketing, the customer payment gateway, hosting of courses, and technical support for learners. For the University partner, Coursera provides training on platform usage, technical support, captioning services, reporting, and transfers of revenue. Coursera partnership managers also help to inform the University of topical area opportunities for new MOOCs, review University MOOC proposals, and troubleshoot issues as they arise.

edX

edX provides marketing, the customer payment gateway, hosting of courses, and technical support for learners. For the University partner, edX provides training on platform usage, technical support, reporting, and transfers of revenue. edX partnership managers also help to inform the University of topical area opportunities for new MOOCs, review University MOOC proposals, and troubleshoot issues as they arise.

MOOC approval opens the flow of resources from the EXST MOOC program. EXST routes the contracts for unit signature, to inform which accounts to use for eventual royalty disbursements, and to protect the IP of the creator and loan it to UMD and the platform(s). Once the contracts are signed, EXST releases the Board-approved funds to the unit(s). The unit may leverage the funds and resources of the EXST MOOC program within UMD guidelines. These resources include:

Instructional Designer Consultation

MOOCs require different considerations than a traditional course, including pedagogy and assessment decisions that affect the course’s structure and delivery. Since the courses are self-paced, feedback to students must be automated. The instructional design team can provide insight into these areas and help units to understand the opportunities available to deliver your course most effectively.

Library Intellectual Property and Open Source Resources

Intellectual property is a key consideration when developing courses and assignments. Understanding the legal implications of intellectual property usage is critical. Units or the course instructor will meet with a library representative to discuss the related guidelines as well as other needs and opportunities available for the course. For example, in cases where materials outside of those owned by the instructor are necessary, open source resources provide course assets that can help to teach specifics through an assignment, assessment, or project that leverages the freely available content.

Videographer Consultation

The style of MOOC videos range depending upon the needs of the topic and presentation. Several options are available for videographer and editing resources: from a high-end option including a team that provides a director, teleprompter, and lighting, to a nearly do-it-yourself one-button solution. Some services, such as editing, are available a-la-carte. A meeting with a videographer can help to structure the project and estimate the resources necessary.

Other MOOC Instructors

Experienced MOOC instructors can help new MOOC instructors learn about what to expect, how to avoid pitfalls, and what works best. These MOOC pioneers can take the unit or instructor step by step through their learning process to prevent units from reinventing the wheel, and can be available to answer questions along the way.

Platform Training

Sometimes done on site, and sometimes remotely, Coursera provides training to set expectations for a successful course, and to familiarize units with their platform for course delivery. edX provides similar support that is available at multiple levels to help create the MOOC.

New MOOC creators will typically have at least one member of the unit’s team complete the training. Units learn how to create a course from a how-to MOOC. Some of the key areas taught in the course include:

• The ingredients of a good MOOC
• Basics of the Coursera platform
• The MOOC universe in which the course runs (on demand, cohorts, etc.)
• Considering the audience and how that impacts the course
• Course outline development and instructional design considerations
• Scripting and storyboarding
• Structural format decisions (the length of lectures, courses, etc.)
• The Coursera teaching and learning resources available at the unit’s disposal
• The timeline and structure for course development and feedback
• Support offered by Coursera

UMD MOOC Support

Course development is supported through various means at the University including staff support to develop and deliver the course, in the communication and coordination with the platform, and to provide access to the aforementioned resources.

The process includes some basic permissions – including approval from the department and Dean. Various forms will require signatures, including to license intellectual property to the University for placement onto the MOOC platform and, in Coursera’s case, an agreement with Coursera about delivering the course. Revenue-sharing arrangements are also in place, which will be shared with the unit.

• For program assistance, contact Bill Aarhus, Assistant Director, Strategic Initiatives for Continuing Education, at 5-3134 or aarhus@umd.edu.
• For financial assistance, contact Verenice Ciciliano, Assistant Director, Finance and Administration, at 5-9944 or vcicilia@umd.edu.
• Campus units can send general questions to moocs@umd.edu.