The Online Learning Initiative (OLI) seeks proposals for Provost-funded Innovation MOOCs from Penn faculty interested in experimentation in online teaching and learning.

What is an Innovation MOOC?

OLI’s Innovation MOOCs are fully-funded, standalone courses that promote experimentation in online learning by incorporating new pedagogical strategies, new technologies or new approaches to course content. Proposals should address one or more of the following approaches:

• Promotes interdisciplinary collaboration 
• Incorporates active learning, authentic assessment and/or novel course design 
• Strives for high social impact, activating and engaging a community (or communities)
• Employs emerging technologies

OLI provides assistance throughout the proposal process, including proposal preparation, online course design support and course production. Innovation MOOCs are fully-funded by the Office of the Provost and do not require school cost-sharing for faculty and teaching assistant stipends. 

OLI supports the production of two Innovation MOOCs each fiscal year. OLI’s Faculty Advisory Committee evaluates all the proposals and makes the final selection. If a proposal is selected, course design begins in early June 2020 with the expectation that the course will launch by May 2021. 

In 2019, OLI’s Faculty Advisory Committee selected two inaugural Innovation MOOCs: 

Do Good … Feel Good, lead instructor Femida Handy (SP2) 

Reflections: Modern Mirrors of Medieval Life, lead instructors William Noel (Penn Libraries and SAS) and Dot Porter (Penn Libraries)

These MOOCs exemplify innovation by striving for high social impact, activating a community, promoting active learning and authentic assessment and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Proposals are due no later than March 16, 2020. Please contact OLI at onlinelearning@upenn.edu to schedule a consultation to review the 2020 Innovation MOOC proposal form at least one month before the submission deadline. Only proposals that utilize this form can be considered.

Since 2012, the Online Learning Initiative (OLI) has supported the development of online learning across Penn. Provost-funded online projects, such as MOOCs, course series and microcredentials receive financial, design and production support for creating online learning experiences. The OLI team is always available to meet with faculty members and school online teams to discuss ideas, proposals and future projects. Email onlinelearning@upenn.edu if you would like more information or to schedule an individual consultation with the OLI team.