The expectations for sustainable food production in aquatic systems are high, especially of low trophic species products with a low carbon footprint. To enhance the knowledge among students, practitioners, and teachers, we developed a massive open online course (MOOC) in sustainable aquaculture for low trophic species (SALTS). The course was launched in April 2023 and contributes to the much-needed increased literacy in the field necessary for enhanced and diversified aquaculture production. The course is free, easily accessible and students may progress through the modules at own pace. By now more than 1000 individuals have signed inn to the course and over 100 have completed the course and received the certificate. In this presentation, we describe the methodological approach for MOOC development, present the course content and structure, as well as student evaluations and recent updates of the course.
How to develop a MOOC
According to the constructive alignment theory, deciding on learning outcomes is the first and the most important step in developing a course. Learning outcomes will guide what material should go into the course and what type of assessments will be used. SALTS is a master level course, which means we expect the students to acquire higher levels of cognitive learning (Revised Bloom's Taxonomy – Apply, Analyse, Evaluate, and Create). Higher levels of learning expect students to have a good knowledge of the concepts. Therefore, some learning activities and assessments must occur at the lower levels of cognitive learning (Remember, Understand). The aim is to cover the value chain of several low trophic species through 10 modules. The AquaVitae Horizon 2020 project scientists provide the research-based content needed, and some of them have contributed to the course updates.
Course modules and the pilot
The modules are: 1) Sustainability of Low Trophic Aquaculture (LTA), 2) LTA Governance, 3) Food nutrition and safety, and consumer perspectives 4) Business, economics, and markets, 5) Production systems, 6) Macroalgae, 7) Echinoderms, 8) Molluscs, 9) Herbivorous finfish, and 10) Future of LTA. Each module consists of a short introduction video followed by an engagement activity. The module contains 2-3 sub-topics, including videos, quizzes, reading material, advanced assessment and additional material. Theis educational material has been provided for online students, and for teachers who can utilise the material in a flipped classroom format. The entire course is equivalent to 5 ECTS points (125-140 hours in total). Each module takes approximately 13 hours to complete. The course is available on the Open edEX platform: Sustainable Aquaculture for Low Trophic Species | UiT OpenedX.
References
Anderson, L. W. and Krathwohl, D. R., et al (Eds..) (2001) A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing: A Revision of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. Allyn & Bacon. Boston, MA (Pearson Education Group)
Biggs, J. (1996). Enhancing teaching through constructive alignment. Higher education, 32(3), 347-364.