Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are revolutionising learning experiences in a global context, combining novel teaching approaches, interactive videos and live broadcasts to whoever wants to join. Participants take the courses online, when they want to, and continue with their learning at a pace that suits their own busy lives. PolyU has stepped into an exciting pedagogical future and has been dedicated in promoting MOOCs. PolyU has recently joined the edX University Advisory Board as a contributing Charter Member. How’s the University’s latest development and achievements in promoting MOOCs?
PolyU has launched a total of 10 MOOCs, among which four of them constitute the International Hospitality Management MicroMasters programme, on edX since August 2015, extending its reach to learners from 175 countries and regions. The most popular course, “Human Anatomy” offered by School of Nursing, recorded nearly 75,000 enrolled students, setting a new record for Asian MOOCs in the discipline. This first-of-its-kind MOOC offers generic anatomy learning to global audiences. Delivered by faculty instructors in collaboration with an international team of experts, this 8-week course helps participants to explore the human body from the perspective of six healthcare disciplines through a clinical case of severe stroke, covering knowledge on body systems and important organs, muscular system, nervous system and special sense, anatomical orientation and skeletal system, cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. This MOOC received positive and constructive feedbacks from many learners.
A two-part "English@Work in Asia" MOOC helped participants succeed in job applications and job interviews. Apart from job application strategies, creative CVs and letter templates, this course covers the construction of a compelling online presence, and how to stand out and ace in job interviews. The course has had an authentic connection with the real world of jobs and careers. The two latest MOOCs were launched in January 2018, namely, “Industry 4.0: How to revolutionize your business” and “Introduction to Urban Geo-Informatics”. Interested parties can search their introductory videos on YouTube and “HKPolyUx” for more details.
PolyU’s collaboration with edX dated back to May 2014 when an agreement was signed to join edX in offering MOOCs. This provides opportunities for PolyU students to learn and exchange with overseas students through MOOCs, thus enjoying a more international learning environment. PolyU teaching staff are able to gain exposure to new teaching pedagogies and co-develop courses and programmes with overseas institutions. While an inaugural Forum on MOOCs was held on PolyU campus in July 2013. A half-day forum has successfully drawn over 120 attendees from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and Taiwan as well as representatives from various universities in Thailand and Malaysia. MOOC is a raving topic among educationalists and practitioners overseas and this inaugural forum at PolyU has made a good start.
PolyU shows support to MOOCs development. PolyU now has two recording studios on campus with the technical expertise needed to apply the highest production standards for the MOOCs it creates. PolyU targets to launch at least four new MOOC courses in 2018, covering areas in fashion design, design thinking, engineering, and information literacy and understanding older population needs. There are also plans to jointly develop MOOCs with overseas universities.
In 10 years’ time, PolyU targets to offer some 20 MOOCs per year (including both new and re-run MOOCs), five MicroMasters programmes, five professional certificate programmes and two full online programmes.
