Tulane's 'Trauma!' course offers new approach to online learning - Jed Lipinski, The Times-Picayune

The Levees.org mini-course is part of a MOOC called Trauma! that will be offered this fall through Tulane. Charles Figley, director of the Traumatology Institute, said the Trauma! MOOC is structured differently than most MOOCs, which have drawn criticism for their high drop-out rates. While most MOOCs are simply online versions of classroom-style classes, Trauma! consists of 10 one-week mini-courses, or what Figley terms "knowledge blocks." Four of the courses are required, but students are allowed to choose the remaining six. "We're taking a Netflix approach," he said. "All the knowledge blocks will be listed online with information about each one. Popular courses may be listed as 'Trending,' others as 'Recommended for You.'" In another deviation from the typical MOOC format, students at Tulane are allowed to take the course for credit. Every week for 75 minutes, the students will meet in a classroom on campus to discuss the course material, Figley said. http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2014/08/tulanes_trauma_offers_new_appr.html