Create a MOOC

Vanderbilt partners Coursera, an online learning platform, to reach learners across the world through Massive Open Online Courses, also known as MOOCs. These courses are available for anyone to enroll, allowing you broad reach to educate learners across the globe.

Faculty and programs are invited to propose new courses and specializations as part of Vanderbilt’s partnership with Coursera. Below is a brief outline of the process, but please reach out to discuss your proposal and how to partner with us.


What to Expect & Resources

The Office of Learning Innovation (OLI) collaborates with units across Vanderbilt University to enable the development and delivery of Massive Online Open Courses, also known as MOOCs, allowing you to educate learners across the globe. As the hub for digital and lifelong education, we strive to provide academic units with the infrastructure, expertise and resources needed to launch online courses that ultimately broaden reach, access, and impact.

In partnering with us, you can expect strategy guidance, video/media production support and coordination with Coursera representatives to help deliver new online offerings successfully.

The following are the different services we can offer at various stages of MOOC development:

Plan

  • Course Strategy & Ideation: In collaboration with Vanderbilt’s Coursera partner representative, OLI can support identification of new course opportunities based on learner demand.

Build

  • Media & Production Management: Produce video/media content for online courses
  • Instructional Design: Provide instructional design consultations and support

Deliver

  • Marketing: Oversee and manage marketing of your course within the Vanderbilt community.

Timeline

Planning, preparation, and development time for a MOOC is usually a 24-week process. OLI is available to provide guidance at any part of the undertaking. From course content design to assessments or media production, we will get you ready to launch your course to millions of learners around the world.


Proposing a Course

Those interested in proposing new courses are encouraged to learn more about the Coursera platform and its affordances. One way to do so is to enroll in one or more of Vanderbilt’s courses on the platform.

Potential instructors are also encouraged to arrange, through OLI, a conversation with Vanderbilt’s Coursera partner representative, who can advise about course topics likely to be of interest to learners, including a list of in-demand topics that can help guide course proposals.

Once potential instructors are ready to propose a course or specialization, they will need to complete a Non-credit proposal form. This form requests a working title, a list of all instructors, an overview of the course or specialization, expected target audience, and more.

Course proposals should include:

  • completed content proposal
  • statements from the instructors’ supervisors (e.g. school dean, department chair) that the work involved in developing and offering the course or specialization is consistent with the instructors’ effort obligations

Questions regarding course proposals should be directed to: digitaleducation@vanderbilt.edu


Approval Process

The proposal will be reviewed for approval by Office of the Provost and, if approved, a revenue distribution agreement will be drawn up. Courses and specializations typically follow the revenue share policy for royalties as defined by the Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization.


Building a Course

Once approved, Coursera will arrange access for instructors on the platform to begin designing and building their courses. Instructors are encouraged to consult with OLI staff for instructional design and production support.


Enroll in a Coursera Course

Interested in other Coursera content? Vanderbilt faculty have partnered with Coursera to launch a range of academic offerings, which can be found by browsing the Vanderbilt Online catalog. Faculty, staff, and students have access to a library of offerings free of charge.

To enroll and earn credentials for free, create an account and login using your Vanderbilt email address.

  1. Visit Coursera for Vanderbilt using this link
    1. You will be directed to the SSO log-in page
  2. If you have logged in and used Coursera with your Vanderbilt email before, select "I'm an existing Coursera user"
    1. Enter your previously set password to prove you are the owner of the existing account
  3. If you have not logged in and used Coursera with your Vanderbilt email before, click "Join Program" if you see the modal
  4. If you are a new user, select "I'm a new Coursera user"
    1. Create an account using your Vanderbilt email address
  5. Once you have setup your account, this link will direct you to login-in using SSO

Account verification emails may get stuck in your spam or quarantine folders. If you are still unable to locate your verification email, contact Coursera Support.


Interested but looking for other innovative learning solutions? Check out these other options for developing digital and lifelong learning in partnership with the Office of Learning Innovation.

Launch an online degree or certificate

Dedicated to enabling high-quality, uniquely Vanderbilt programs, our team can partner with you to plan, develop, and launch online or hybrid graduate degrees and certificates.

Learn more about how to launch an online program

Develop a non-credit offering

Supporting lifelong learning and professional education through non-credit offerings, our team is positioned to help you reach new audiences, further engage existing learners, and maximize the impact of new ideas on society.

Learn more about non-credit offerings

Explore digital & lifelong learning advisory services

Supporting academic units across campus to catalyze and facilitate innovative learning. Whether you are looking for full program support, market research, media production, or best practices our team can assist you.

Learn more about digital & lifelong learning advisory services


Vanderbilt's Current Online Learning Library

Visit Vanderbilt Online to see all existing online education offerings, including degree programs and continuing education courses. Picture your content there and then get started by partnering with us to create your online course or program.


Imagine What's Possible.

Whether you’re looking to try something new, wanting to better connect with your students or need to develop your curriculum for hybrid or online environments, AdvancED’s team of skilled practitioners is ready to support your next step.