The University of Ghana is partnering a consortium of universities; KU Leuven, Belgium; Stellenbosch University, South Africa; University of Zimbabwe and University of Rwanda to develop a Massive Open Online Course in Clinical Nutrition. As part of the consortium’s activities, a workshop was held on the 27th and 28th of March 2019 with the aim of equipping faculty members across the University with the needed skills to develop and manage Massive Open Online Courses. The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Stijn Van Laer of the Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven.
Massive open online courses (MOOCS) are online courses aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the internet. In addition to traditional course materials, MOOCs usually provide interactive sessions with user forums to support community interactions among students and lecturers, as well as immediate feedback to quick quizzes and assignments. (Kaplan, A.M. and Haenlein, M., 2016).
Dr. Stijn Van Laer
The aim of the workshop was to bring together faculty and project partners to discuss the policy level goals, aims, vision and rationale for MOOCs. The workshop was also to give faculty members from across the University of Ghana, a hands-on experience in the educational, technical and practical steps in designing and developing MOOCs.
Prof. Michael Tagoe
Professor Michael Tagoe, the Acting Provost of the College of Education, and Dean of the School of Continuing and Distance Education, in his opening address, noted that as the world is advancing through technology, there is the need for the transformation of traditional modes of teaching and learning. This can be done by using innovative teaching and learning approaches such as MOOCs in order to reach learners who otherwise may not have the chance to access various courses and programmes of study. He urged participants to take the opportunity to start the process of developing and transforming teaching and learning at the University of Ghana.
In emphasizing the importance of MOOCs, Dr. Stijn Van Laer noted that the establishment of Massive Open Online Courses had helped KU Leuven as a university to reach students and lifelong learners around the world without them being physically present on the university campus.
Cross-section of participants
Dr. Van Laer took participants through practical sessions on how to create a Massive Open Online Course. Participants then formed groups and created Open Online Courses on subjects of their choice, which they later presented for review.
Group Discussions
Reference:
Kaplan, Andreas M.; Haenlein, Michael (2016). "Higher education and the digital revolution: About MOOCs, SPOCs, social media, and the Cookie Monster". Business Horizons. 59 (4): 441–50. doi:10.1016/j.bushor.2016.03.008.