KSU's Bagwell College of Education to Offer Massive Open Online Course

Kennesaw State University’s Bagwell College of Education will soon offer the university’s first massive open online course (MOOC) to prepare Georgia’s K-12 educators to facilitate student online learning in their own classrooms.

The K-12 Blended and Online Learning MOOC will enable participants to earn up to five free professional learning units (PLUs), which are required for teacher certification renewal.

The open course is free and available to anyone. The MOOC will begin in January and run for eight weeks. 

“This MOOC will provide a strong foundation for educators who are teaching online or in blended capacities in their own K-12 classrooms,” said Arlinda Eaton, dean of the Bagwell College of Education at Kennesaw State.

“As one of the leading providers of teacher graduates in Georgia, the Bagwell College of Education is pleased to give back to the teaching community and fulfill the state’s teacher-training needs in online and blended learning.”

The course is designed to address foundational knowledge about trends in K-12 online learning, as well as gain an understanding of engaged learning strategies, assessment and differentiation in the online learning environment. 

The MOOC is offered in two levels. The first level will address the foundational knowledge in K-12 online learning and the second level will provide participants the opportunity to demonstrate competence in evaluating and creating K-12 blended and online experiences. Students who successfully complete both levels of the MOOC will receive a completion certificate.

Those interested in applying the course toward a graduate certificate in online teaching or a master’s of education degree in instructional technology can submit the MOOC certificate and completed assessments for transfer credit evaluation at Kennesaw State.  

“Offering our first MOOC is an exciting step for the distance learning program at Kennesaw State,” said Elke Leeds, assistant vice president for Technology Enhanced Learning, executive director of the Distance Learning Center. “The K-12 online and blended learning MOOC is the first of several planned open courses. The open course concept can reduce the cost of degree completion for those interested in pursuing an advanced certificate or degree in education. 

“Through open courses like this, Kennesaw State University has a unique opportunity to leverage technology, showcase the talents of our faculty and offer the resources of our programs while increasing access to education,” she added. “Our focus is aimed more at ‘open’ and less on ‘massive’.”

Kennesaw State University has been offering online courses through its distance learning program since 2007. Enrollment has grown from 3,300 to 11,300, while courses offered jumped from 37 in 2007 to 430 today, and degree programs expanded from two online degrees to 21 program options with more planned.

For more details about Kennesaw State’s new MOOC, visit mooc.kennesaw.edu.