by Tim Dodd
Each week we bring you the latest about massive open online courses (MOOCs) and online delivery, the phenomena that are revolutionising education.
Swinburne University of Technology's new MOOC on autism is proving a massive hit. The seven-week free course, which starts on April 2, has already enrolled 13,000 people. The number is growing at 500 a day and the university expects it will reach 20,000 by the time the course begins. It is designed for families and carers of people with autism and those who work alongside them. It aims to equip learners with the skills to solve practical issues they will experience when interacting with autistic people. One of its goals is to foster a supportive network of parents and carers, the university says. It is also part of a research project to explore effective online teaching methods, and students' participation and engagement will be monitored. Student contact hours are about two hours a week. There is no assessment or accreditation.