A Mooc with no gobbledegook

A Mooc, or massive open online course, is a convenient way of delivering learning content online. There’s no limit on attendance – all the learner needs is a computer and an internet connection.

I’m interested in the potential of Moocs to engage wide audiences, especially pre-university students. When the opportunity arose to take part in the first Mooc at the University of York, I took it as a fantastic opportunity to oversee the design, creation and facilitation of Exploring everyday chemistry (eeDc), a unique organic chemistry course delivered via the FutureLearn platform.

The course covers topics relevant to our everyday lives – from perfumes to antibiotics, brewing and sport. Lessons encourage learners to develop independent learning skills to aid the transition to university.

Here’s what I have learned from running the course in January and July.