UBC’s second massive open online course, or MOOC, Useful Genetics launched May 1 with more than 28,000 students registered. The instructor is Rosie Redfield of the Zoology Dept., who has taught genetics both face-to-face and online since 1993.
Dr. Redfield developed this new genetics course to demonstrate the changes she called for in an article last summer. This course aims to provide both a solid university-level understanding of genetics principles and a practical understanding of the genetics issues that arise in daily life.
Useful Genetics is part of a pilot project that is engaged in offering free, open access courses to students anywhere in the world. Two other UBC MOOCs are slated to open in the coming weeks – Climate Literacy: Navigating Climate Conversations and Introduction to Systematic Program Design.
The MOOCs pilot project is part of UBC’s Flexible Learning Initiative, which strives to create new learning opportunities that combine technology and pedagogical approaches to enhance student learning.