Lumen Winter 2015 - Flipbook - Page 24
stor y by Al i son H ar vey
MOOCS offers world-class
education, online, for free
With more than 65,000 people in more than 160 countries
signing up within the Þrst six months, there is no doubt
that AdelaideX courses are off to a ßying start.
A
delaideX, named after the
technology provider edX, is an
interactive online portal for learners
of all ages and backgrounds to tap into
the world of higher education – at no cost.
Run by leading academics from the
world’s best universities, massive open
online courses (MOOCs) are short
courses on various topics. Learners log
on to watch video tutorials, complete
assignments and participate in group
discussions with other learners.
In 2015 AdelaideX has offered
MOOCs on human biology, wine, coding
and programming, cybersecurity and
endangered languages. The first courses,
Essential Human Biology and World of
Wine, have been so successful they were
released again in June and remain open
for the rest of the year. Most MOOCs
worldwide are in English, but selected
AdelaideX courses will be translated for
Chinese learners through edX’s national
partner, XuetangX.
Program Manager, Dr Katy McDevitt,
says that AdelaideX already seems to be
inspiring its students to pursue further
learning opportunities. In a survey of
learners at the Essential Human Biology
course, 80 per cent of respondents said
taking the course had positively influenced
their intention to undertake further study,
and 77 per cent said they intended to
take another AdelaideX MOOC.
22 Lumen | Winter 2015
“I’m looking forward to seeing our
learners make the most of a free and
highly valuable learning opportunity,”
says Katy.
The forums are alive with messages
between participants located around
the world, discussing why they are
undertaking the course and what they
hope to get out of it. One participant,
a tattoo artist, thoroughly enjoyed the
biology course because it provided an
understanding of skin and its structure.
University of Adelaide PhD candidate,
Lieke van der Hulst, explains her inspiration
for signing up. “Even though I have some
experience with wine through jobs at
cellar doors and in wine bars, I really
wanted more knowledge on winemaking
and the factors influencing the taste and
aroma of different wines,” she says.
“I’m hoping to get my wine knowledge
to a point where I can not only describe a
wine, but also understand where certain
flavours come from.”
The convenience of online learning
attracted Annette Gilson, a former student
of the University of Adelaide.
“The convenience is a huge advantage
as is learning at your own pace each
week, which reduces any perceived worry
of falling behind or comparing yourself
with other students,” she says.
MOOCs allow students considering
further study to get a taste of university,
however these courses would equally suit
those looking to refresh their knowledge,
gain new skills, or simply to find out how
their own area of study has changed since
their time at the University.
Alumni are encouraged to peruse
the available courses and sign up
through the AdelaideX website
adelaide.edu.au/adelaidex or the
main edX website at www.edx.org.
Follow the AdelaideX Facebook and
Twitter accounts for regular updates.
Next cour se:
Language Revival:
Securing the Future of
Endangered Languages
Learn how the world’s endangered
languages are revived and why
this process is critical to preserving
cultural identity.
Begins 28 July 2015
