The MOOC eHealth will start for the third time on 6 February. Around ten thousand participants from all over the world signed up for the first two instalments of the open online course, organised by the University of Twente and offered by British platform FutureLearn.
Experiences
The participants of the past two instalments of the MOOC have had positive experiences. “The participants really appreciate the course’s clear structure, which really serves to illustrate the way the various themes are connected. They also feel positively about the practical examples that are used to translate theoretical concepts into the real world,” says Hanneke Kip, PhD candidate and teacher in the Psychology, Health and Technology (PHT) department. She is course educator of the MOOC, along with Lisette van Gemert-Pijnen (professor of persuasive health technology), Saskia Kelders (university professor), and Floor Sieverink (PhD candidate).
28 per cent of the participants are from the United Kingdom, 15 per cent are from the Netherlands, and the other participants are from all over the world. “The number of British participants has caused us to have a native speaker of English look at the material once more carefully. We think it is important to ensure proper formulation, which is something that was commented on in the previous courses’ assessments,” says Hanneke Kip.
Increased frequency
The department intends to offer the MOOC more frequently. “We have heard many people express a need for them,” says Hanneke Kip. “They offer extra opportunities for people working in the field who want to obtain more in-depth knowledge. The course also helps potential students prepare properly and gain insight into what we do at the University of Twente in terms of eHealth. Our view on how to combine psychology, healthcare, and technology is clearly reflected in the course.”
Participating in the third MOOC eHealth that starts on 6 February is free. You can sign up via https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/ehealth.
