The key aim of MOOQ is to support the formulation and integration of Quality approaches and mechanisms into the life-cycle of MOO design, implementation, and delivery with emphasis on learning content and its provisions towards innovative learning settings and experiences for all. MOOQ addresses the open issue of integration of quality approaches and mechanisms into the design of MOO education by pursuing the following objectives: • Analysis on existing practices for integrating quality approaches on emerging open online courses, including active discourse on open issues and concerns arising from the massive, large-scale implementations, showcasing paradigms of key players in the field. • Development of a Quality Reference Framework (QRF) for the design, evaluation and assurance of MOOCs drawing upon formal standardization principles issued by ISO and CEN. • Design, deployment and assessment of 2 multilingual MOOC pilot and associated software tools applying in practice and showcasing how to apply and manage the QRF. • Standardisation activities that shall allow the integration of the project’s outcomes into specifications and standards both at European level (CEN-European Committee for Standardisation) and later, internationally (ISO). • Dissemination and awareness raising on the basis of well-targeted communication aiming at the introduction and promotion of the QRF to all stakeholders towards adopting and understanding the benefits of quality-enhanced, open online learning (including the establishment and pilot operation of an Observatory for the Quality of MOOCs (European Quality Observatory for Massive Open Education-EQOM). EQOM will maintain, manage, expand and assess the knowledge acquired during the project and establish liasons with other associations.
For the detailed description of the Project Summary: see uploaded PDF "2. Project Summary"! MOOQ Project Summary: MOOQ is the European Alliance for the Quality of Massive Open Online Courses, called MOOCs, coordinated by the Open University of the Netherlands under the leadership of Dr. Christian M. Stracke, ICDE Chair in OER and Associate Professor for Open Education. The vision of MOOQ is to improve the quality of MOOCs leading to a new era of learning experiences. MOOQ’s mission is to develop a Quality Reference Framework (QRF) as key result for the adoption, the design, the delivery and the evaluation of MOOCs in order to empower MOOC designers, facilitators and providers for the benefit of the learners. The main goal of MOOQ is therefore the development and the integration of quality approaches, new pedagogies and organisational mechanisms into MOOCs with a strong focus on the learning processes, methodologies and assessments. To foster high quality Open Education and Learning in Europe and worldwide, MOOQ facilitates a new Q-generation of MOOCs that are designed, organized and tested as qMOOCs. This is realized in close collaboration with all interested partners and stakeholders in Europe and beyond. MOOQ has achieved huge impact at the local, regional, European and international levels: MOOQ could reach out to more than 100,000 MOOC learners, designers, facilitators and providers through the MOOQ dissemination and exploitation activities. In addition, in close cooperation with European and international institutions and associations, MOOQ could involve in the QRF finalization more than 10,000 MOOC learners, designers, facilitators and providers through the Global MOOC Quality Survey, the MOOQ presentations and workshops at regional, European and international conferences as well as communication and collaboration in traditional channels and social media. Research Context, Research Objectives and Research Partners: The growing discourse and increasing volume of research on the quality of open online education (including MOOCs) was the main motivation for the conceptualization and the inception of the MOOQ initiative in 2015. The number of people who signed up for MOOCs in 2015 exceeded 35 million, which doubled the initial estimated 17 million for that year (Shah, 2015b). Meta-analysis of the MOOC Research Initiative (MRI) (Gašević et al., 2014) identified five commonly research themes with student engagement and learning success as the main theme above the other four research themes. Hence, the core vision and mission of the MOOQ project is to develop a Quality Reference Framework (QRF) to improve the design, evaluation and quality of MOOCs. The five participating partners of the MOOQ initiative and their as research principals are: 1. Open University of the Netherlands (OUNL) as project coordinator under leadership of Dr. Christian M. Stracke; 2. Universidade Aberta (UAb); 3. Hellenic Open University (HOU); 4. National Quality Infrastructure System (NQIS) 5. Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon (ENS) Research Trajectory of the MOOQ Project: Activities and Outcomes: Following are the four main project activities and outcomes: 1. Conceptualization of a research framework to capture and to analyse MOOC design patterns and best practices by desktop research and literature review plus two additional and voluntary main research instruments: i) The Global MOOC Quality Survey (GMQS) and ii) Semi-structured interviews. Outcomes: Research Framework (O1) summarizing and analysing the desktop research and literature review. Peer-reviewed scientific publications and presentations on results of the Global MOOC Quality Survey (GMQS) and the semi-structured interviews. 2. Design and development of the QRF based on the findings of the GMQS and the semi-structured interviews as well as workshops, consultations and collaborations worldwide. Outcome: The Quality Reference Framework (QRF) (O2) consists of three dimensions and contains in addition the QRF Key Quality Indicators for MOOC experts and the QRF Quality Checklist for MOOC beginners for the easy usage and adaptation of the QRF. 3. Design and development of two pilot MOOCs using the QRF as a guiding framework. Outcome: Two MOOCs (one xMOOC and one cMOOC) (O3) were developed using and testing the QRF. 4. Develop the Pre-standard "European MOOC Quality Framework": Outcome: MOOQ has established work groups consisting of educators, policy makers, researchers, learners and standardisation experts and the collaborative platform for consultation purposes. Finally, the Pre-standard "European MOOC Quality Framework" (O4) was developed and submitted to the Standardization Bodies CEN and ISO for approval as European and international standard.