A ‘massive open online course’ (MOOC) is a model for delivering learning content online to any person who wants to take a course, with no limit on attendance. MOOCs are an excellent way of delivering educational material to big audiences in a fast and easy way.
MOOC ‘Introduction to Frisian Language and Culture’
Gerbrich de Jong, who studied Frisian Language and Culture at the University of Groningen, developed a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) called ‘Introduction to Frisian Language and Culture’. This course enabled people from all over the world to learn the basics of the Frisian language. The participants learn by watching video’s, repeating sentences, making quizzes, joining discussions and studying word lists. Besides acquiring language skills, they received an introduction to the landscape and culture of Friesland.
One of the advantages of MOOCs are that once they are developed, they can be repeated as many times as desired. The Frisian MOOC developed by Gerbrich unexpectedly became a global hit: over 6500 people subscribed for the first run! The course attracted students from all over the world. In March 2017, the course had it’s first re-run.
Article in Levende Talen Magazine
According to Gerbrich, the use of MOOCs offers possibilities to change the educational landscape. Want to learn more about the success of the online Frisian course and the role of MOOCs in higher education? Read the article written by Gerbrich in the Levende Talen Magazine (Living Languages Magazine) below: