Learning by Creating a MOOC

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) can be a platform for campus students to publish co-created educational material. Involving students in the creation of a MOOC has the potential to lead to a more learner-centered MOOC while also providing students with the opportunity to gain skills. This exploratory case study evaluates that potential. We analyze the learning gains of the students, the MOOC they created (the product), and our own support during the development process. Analysis shows that the MOOC had a similar quality to our other MOOCs. Videos and assignments were more creative than usual, but were not created with a much more learner-centered focus. The students gained valuable skills while making the MOOC, such as leadership skills and video presenting skills. The support from university staff was seen as very valuable, but could have been expanded to truly elevate the quality of the content. We end this paper with some practical recommendations for other teams wishing to help students create a MOOC.