Recommendations: MOOCs in Business

ByGiuliano Alviani

Recommendations: Moocs for the world of business

In this section, we presented seven selected recommendations for a better uptake of MOOC by the business world:

  • Recommendations for a better uptake of MOOC by the business world

    1. Carefully select your course topic
    2. Identify your target group´s expectations
    3. Ensure an easy sign-up procedure
    4. Provide the option for learners/employees to stay anonymous in the MOOCs
    5. Monitoring participants’ activity, inputs and comments can offer useful data/Analytics
    6. Convince the key decision-makers in companies
    7. Check the adaptability your MOOC

Recommendations for a better uptake of MOOC by the business world

Carefully select your course topic
  • Is it appropriate to be learnt via the MOOC format?
  • Does it make sense to be taught to a critical mass of business learners (is there a need)?
  • Does it facilitate key business competences and career-related motives?
Identify your target group´s expectations …towards professional appearance of the platform, videos, usability, design, etc. and quality standards
Ensure an easy sign-up procedure As simple as that. To not ask for unecessary information and completed steps within the procedure.
Provide the option for learners/employees to stay anonymous in the MOOCs and create trust from the beginning. Sharing can still happen without giving away names of people and organizations.
Monitoring participants’ activity, inputs and comments can offer useful data/Analytics to inform further improvements to the MOOC, focused moderation and upcoming MOOCs for target business participants.
Convince the key decision-makers in companies
  • Preparing a strategy to introduce your MOOC to decision-makers (aligned to company strategy and work on the key selling points and benefits for the company);
  • Be aware they might not be familiar with MOOCs, and might lack some digital and language & terminology) skills next to prior knowledge, etc.
Check the adaptability your MOOC
  • Could the MOOC be reworked to fit a company learning program/catalogue and/or aligned/adapted to a company competence framework?
  • Can the (tailored) MOOC become part of the official training program of a company?
  • A closed operating environment section for the company within the open MOOC could help to address confidentiality and legal issues.
  • Could the MOOC become a complementary/supplemental offering?