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Call for Proposals for Northwestern University Coursera MOOCs for 2015-2016
Provost Dan Linzer and the Faculty Distance Learning Workgroup request proposals from Northwestern
faculty who are interested in offering a massive open online course (MOOC) through Coursera starting in
summer 2015. We seek courses that will:
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Allow faculty and the University to experiment with innovative technologies and pedagogies;
Enhance the learning experience of Northwestern students in on-ground courses;
Reflect Northwestern as a world-class university and showcase what is special about
Northwestern’s faculty, research and curriculum;
Provide meaningful learning opportunities to non-traditional students, current students and
alumni, and/or students who currently have limited access to higher education.
Faculty members who are interested in teaching a Coursera course must submit a proposal using this
form. MOOCs must carry the University’s endorsement in order to be offered with Coursera. The
proposal must be discussed with and approved by the faculty member’s department chair and Dean’s
Office prior to submission. After obtaining department and school approval, faculty members should
submit their proposals to onlinelearning@northwestern.edu. The Faculty Distance Learning Workgroup
will then review proposals and make recommendations for final review by the Office of the Provost.
Interested faculty should refer to our Coursera FAQs for more detailed information about the processes
for proposing, developing and teaching Coursera courses. Faculty are invited to consult with the
Coordinated Service Center (CSC) that supports online courses at any point in the process by emailing
onlinelearning@northwestern.edu. Overviews of the Northwestern University Coursera MOOCs can be
found at https://www.coursera.org/northwestern. Contact the CSC for more in-depth information
about past and current Northwestern Coursera MOOCs. Please note that currently requests for MOOC
proposals are issued annually.
Proposals for courses must be received by January 31, 2015.
Lead Instructor Information
Name:
Position:
School:
Department:
Email:
Phone:
Co-instructor(s):
Course Information
Proposed Coursera course title:
Have you taught this course before? [ ] Yes
[ ] No If yes, please attach the most recent syllabus.
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Proposed Coursera course length (weeks) and rationale for the length:
Intended start date (approximate):
Department Chair and Dean’s Office Approval
Dean:
Department Chair:
Please include confirmation of the chair’s approval and a letter of recommendation from the dean who
has approved this proposal.
Describe what you would like students to be able to do or know by the end of the course. What are the
student objectives/learning outcomes for the course?
Why are you interested in creating a MOOC? What would make developing and delivering a MOOC a
successful experience for you?
How will your MOOC benefit your school and the University?
How would this course showcase an area of strategic priority for the University to a broad
audience?
In what ways might this MOOC be effective in reaching and recruiting potential students for
undergraduate or graduate programs at Northwestern?
Would you be willing to speak in person- to MOOC participants or interested alumni, for
example- either locally or around the country/world?
Do you plan for this Coursera course to be related to any on campus courses or school initiatives? If so,
please explain. How would this course enable the development of new components of on-ground
courses for Northwestern students?
Please describe the potential audience that you envision for this course. Who might be interested
(global audiences, alumni, lifelong learners, etc.) and how would it be valuable for them?
Are there similar courses already taught through Coursera? How would this course be differentiated?
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Would this course relate to other MOOCs that we have already developed, or that are also being
proposed, so that we create a strong MOOC presence in a field with a series of related courses?
What would be the ideal timeline for you for the development and delivery of the course (with
development beginning in spring 2015 and delivery completing in spring 2016)? Please see MOOC
Creation Guidelines for more information on the time commitment to develop and deliver a MOOC.
Please provide any other additional information that you would like the reviewers to consider in
evaluating your proposal.