Why the future is all about the ‘Knowledge Cloud’ platform


EdCast teams up with MSU to provide more learner-centric platforms for deeper engagement

MSU-edcast-Food
MSU’s new Food Knowledge Cloud. Credit: MSU

Imagine an online platform for your free MOOCs…and for all paid, credited online courses; plus webinars and research; combined with cloud, mobile, and social network access; all with the ability for peer collaboration and multiple pedagogies.

Well, Michigan State University (MSU) imagined just this–and EdCast delivered.

In May and November 2013, MSU Professor John Spink led a “Food Fraud” program that examined using food for economic gain. The program was so successful that it had 2,000 participants with close to an 80 percent completion rate, according to Christine Geith, assistant provost and executive director of MSU Global, an innovation and strategy unit in the Office of the Provost that assists faculty in creating, facilitating and implementing projects.

MSU has since partnered with EdCast to expand on the growing popularity of food-related MOOCs.  “We aim to build with partners a whole set of learning experiences—all non-credit to begin with—to share the information about food systems,” says Geith.

So why did MSU choose EdCast for their MOOC platform as opposed to edX, Coursera or Udacity?

Geith says MSU experimented with other platforms like Udacity with Food Fraud and other food industry courses. Yet, the University “learned that our strategy for MOOCs is best integrated in strategic content areas where we have a lot of expertise, which happens to be in food.”

And according to EdCast and MSU, focusing on strategic content areas in a community-centric, online cloud platform is the way of the future for higher-ed innovators.

(Next page: How EdCast aims to achieve deeper student engagement)

As an agriculture school with leading programs in the food industry, Geith wants to elevate the learning experience by leveraging what the University already has online and adding customized features for more meaningful and engaging offerings–a goal he believes EdCast can help accomplish: “MOOCs are one important tool in the tool kit that we should take advantage of and combine it with what we already have online (we have 30 online food programs including food law and regulations).”

Karl Mehta, the founder and CEO of EdCast, added that what differentiates EdCast is this customization and ability to create a centralized user experience. “It’s a next-generation digital learning ecosystem. It’s completely reimagined how we learn and how we teach. It stretches across traditional courses to non-based courses.”

The new partnership with MSU will allow for multiple pedagogies on the platform, since “MOOCs are just one format that is supported,” explained Mehta. “EdCast goes beyond MOOCs to peer-to-peer learning, and group based learning. It is cloud-based. They are all public courses, which help provide an amazing reach. The platform can support free and paid courses and non-credit and for credit courses. There are even capabilities to support mobile learning.”

Because learning effectiveness can suffer with scaling, personalization and peer-to-peer research can help balance scale and engagement, he said. “When learners learn in teams and groups they can be more engaged. We aim to provide the power of scale online and in cloud-based technologies with the personalization of mobile and social technologies to achieve a deeper achievement. Building communities is more important than building content.”

(Next page: MSU’s courses on EdCast)

On Oct. 15, MSU will offer several new courses on the EdCast platform.

Food Fraud Preview

A self-paced learning opportunity that teaches students how to prevent food fraud.

food-fraud
Credit: MSU

Food Safety Practices for the FoodIndustry

A resource, “hot topic” 12-week course that covers the complex challenges of producing safer food throughout the supply chain on a global basis.

Food Safety

Another resource “hot topic” course that examines what should be taken to handle and preserve food quality.

Urban Agriculture

An 8-week self-paced learning experience increases awareness of metropolitan agriculture and is designed to build a network of collaborators. The course is open to anyone and participants will earn a certificate of completion.

The first course offerings do not have a charge. As things progress, there will be some fees required.  “Perhaps certificates or badges,” said Geith. “We may do some exclusive professional development types of programs on the platform. It will be a mix of free and fee experiences.”

Michael Sharnoff is Associate Online Editor at eCampus News. Follow him on Twitter @Michael_eSM.

Sign up for our newsletter

Newsletter: Innovations in K12 Education
By submitting your information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Latest posts by Michael Sharnoff (see all)

Oops! We could not locate your form.

Sign up for our newsletter

Newsletter: Innovations in K12 Education
By submitting your information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.