Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

MOOCs are comprehensive, freely accessible online courses that both impart knowledge and promote the active development of skills. They offer a flexible learning environment that makes it possible to access course content anytime and anywhere. Thanks to the modular structure, learners can work through the content at their own pace and tailor it to their personal needs.

Typical components of MOOCs are video units that clearly convey central concepts and topics, supplemented by quizzes and tasks that check and consolidate learning progress. In addition, forums and discussion areas create space for exchange and questions - so participants can get in touch with each other, share experiences and learn from each other. MOOCs thus offer a flexible and interactive way to deepen knowledge and develop new skills - regardless of time and place.

Contact persons at the ZML
Sarah Holstein
Phone: +49 721 608-48219
E-mail: sarah.holstein∂kit.edu

Daniel Weichsel
Phone: +49 721 608-48207
E-mail: daniel.weichsel∂kit.edu

Best practice

One example of a MOOC is the course "Machine Translation", which is offered via the Coursera platform. Coursera was founded at Stanford University in 2012 and works with numerous universities worldwide to provide high-quality educational content online. KIT offers this online course free of charge to provide learners with access to current topics and developments in the field of machine translation. By participating in this course, interested parties can not only expand their knowledge, but also develop practical skills that are of great importance in today's working world.

The platform we initiated "Open Courses KIT" initiated by us offers an opportunity for KIT employees to make digital learning opportunities accessible to an interested public beyond the boundaries of KIT. In this way, not only external persons can gain an insight into the courses offered by KIT, but also interested universities have the opportunity to use the existing online materials and integrate them into their own courses.

The courses currently offered on this platform include the "NoPhish course" on internet safety and the course "Introduction to Research Data Handling". The latter guides participants through the handling of research data and provides basic knowledge that is helpful when starting a new research institution.

Another example of a successful MOOC is theonline course AMALEA which deals with the process of machine learning. This interactive online course allows participants to learn the content in varying depth and tailored to their individual needs. The AMALEA course was developed in close cooperation with the KI Campus and has been available to all interested parties without restrictions since September 2021.

In theMOOC archiveyou will also find a list of all our former MOOCs that are no longer active.

Do you want to implement your own MOOC? We will support you!
  • Advice and information: We are on hand to help you flesh out your ideas and support you every step of the way.
  • Conception: We help you to develop a concept that conveys your message clearly and effectively
  • Production: Whether it's a video production or a full course on KOALA, we turn your ideas into reality.
  • Publication: We ensure that your media product is presented professionally and attractively.