Artsmooc introduction

Artsmooc introduction, artsmooc provides innovative support and advice in the development of arts practice based MOOCs

Website: http://www.artsmooc.org

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/chris-follows/29/661/9b4

Video: http://process.arts.ac.uk/sites/default/files/conv_vid/open-edu-vid_7214.mp4

What is the education problem you want to solve?

There’s been limited progress in the development of free and open online arts practice based style Massive Open Online Courses (arts MOOCs). Colleges and Universities see MOOCs and open education as high risk and are looking for external support. There are no practice based MOOC/ online learning community providers or specialists in this area. Research suggests MOOCs are mostly benefiting those who already have advanced degrees and the skills and drive to make the most of free education and barriers to accessing open and free education could be due to a lack of web and digital literacies.

What is the role of technology in your project?

Artsmooc will explore the use and development of open source technologies, specifically Drupal CMS for creating MOOC environments and online learning communities. Artsmooc will integrate its in-house open source developments and artsmooc innovations with its clients and stakeholder existing environments and future needs. Artsmooc will work closely with its clients and stakeholders to understand current practices and the challenges and needs of online learning. This will include the ‘bring your own environment’ approach to solving problems, bespoke environments and ecosystems third party, social media and in-house solutions in the development of new ‘resident’ forms of online learning.

What is your business and market approach?

Business model: Artsmooc will collaborate on multiple co-development projects, which explore new business and enterprise models that address the technological, social and cultural needs and challenges facing the sector. Artsmooc aims to provide consultation and unique specialist service for the sector. (Clients: Universities, sector bodies, colleges, galleries, practitioners and the creative industries) Social enterprise model: Develop and support web and digital literacies of our stakeholders groups, to improve engagement, access and development of free and open online arts courses/community networks (MOOCs), web literacies, open practices and digital citizenship (Stakeholders: Arts groups, networks, charitable arts organisations working with our stakeholders).

Why are you and your team the right people to do it?

I have the knowledge and experience to attract and expand the artsmooc concept and team; we have already received interest from across the sector. We have a core team of Drupal developers and designers that we have been working with on open education projects. I have worked at the University of the Arts London UAL since 2003. I am currently the DIAL project manager 'Digital Integration Into Arts Learning' a developing digital literacies project. I recently completed a SCORE fellowship at the Open University and I’m the initiator of process.arts.ac.uk. I’ve worked on the JISC UKOER programmes.