r Check out more MOOCs offered by U of M faculty at www . coursera . org / minnesota
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Distinguished McKnight Professor Chris Cramer says his massive open online course ( MOOC ) on statistical molecular thermodynamics “ isn ’ t so much like a course as it is like the best textbook you could ever imagine .”
global audience is just amazing to me ,” he says . “ I can only imagine how much I ’ m going to learn from my students .”
Public Engagement While academic courses are traditionally taught only to as many people as can fit in a lecture hall , schools and instructors have long dreamed of expanding their scope . A century ago , that took the form of correspondence courses . Today , thanks to rapidly advancing technology , some courses are moving online .
Through Coursera , the University of Minnesota will pilot five courses that anyone in the world can take for free . The courses offer video lectures , regular quizzes , writing assignments , and discussion forums . Though no credit is offered , any student who successfully completes the course will receive a “ statement of accomplishment .”
Although MOOCs are a relatively untested teaching tool ( most of the major platforms emerged only in 2012 ), Provost Karen Hanson says they offer an array of benefits . Not only will instructors build a library of polished online videos that they can use to enhance their on-campus teaching , but they ’ ll also be able to use the courses as a laboratory to measure student learning and test new teaching methods .
“ The spirit behind MOOCs aligns with our mission of public engagement and public service ,” Hanson says . “ We think MOOCs will help the world , help University of Minnesota students , and help our instructors teach better .”
Flipped Class The University of Minnesota isn ’ t the only school getting in on the act . Currently , more than 60 major universities , including Princeton , Stanford , and the University of Wisconsin , offer classes through Coursera . Eventually , some courses may be offered for credit .
Chris Cramer , Distinguished McKnight Professor of chemistry , is teaching a MOOC on statistical molecular thermodynamics . He had long wanted to “ flip ” his class : put lecture material online for students to watch on their own time , then use class time to work through problems and engage in discussion . The Coursera opportunity nudged him to action .
And while he ’ s excited about the possibilities that such courses offer , he believes the best learning will always happen face-to-face . “ A MOOC isn ’ t so much like a course as it is like the best textbook you could ever imagine — with streaming video , narration , self-assessment , and machine-graded exercises ,” he says . “ But there ’ s so much value in having a group of peers and faculty available for discussion , and having the spontaneity of a class discussion that can go in different directions .”
Diversity of Students That said , the courses will most certainly extend the reach of the University : thousands of people from around the world are getting access to the U ’ s brightest minds . And thanks to the considerable excitement that surrounds MOOCs right now , some of the University ’ s Coursera courses are generating significant enthusiasm .
Hill ’ s course , for example , has earned praise on Twitter from Bill Gates , New York Times food writer Mark Bittman , and author Michael Pollan ; his course also has earned thousands of social media “ shares ” and “ likes .” Other courses have been written up in respected journals in their fields .
MOOCs may just be getting started , but they ’ re likely to open up a whole new world of opportunities for instructors and the U of M , says Hill . “ It ’ s been incredible to see the diversity of people in this course — not only where they come from , but their interests and reasons for taking the course ,” he says . “ I expect this course will bear fruit that will benefit us for many years .”
Erin Peterson is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer .
r Check out more MOOCs offered by U of M faculty at www . coursera . org / minnesota
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