Research Data Management training

Pauline WardUniversity of Edinburgh Data Library

#OER16#RDMSmooc

@PaulineDataWard

MANTRA is built using Xerte Online Toolkits from the University of Nottingham / Apereo, which is a learning resource authoring tool. Hosting is not provided.

Xerte Pros

• Content may be exported as SCORM-compliant modules for re-use.

• Content is more accessible in the sense that no login is required.

Xerte Cons

• Takes a long time to learn the interface.

Coursera is a MOOC delivery platform and organisation, working with institutions who provide courses.

Coursera can track lots of data about people’s use of the course such as exactly what they engage with and attrition.

Whereas with Xerte, we can only guess at some of that detail using Google Analytics based on how long they stay on the page.

The welcome and end of course surveys were built on by our partners at the University of North Carolina using Qualtrix. The surveys have a lot of demographic info about learners that does not come from Coursera normally.

Coursera Pros

• User feedback is received very quickly, particularly through Discussion Boards. This does create extra work.

• Editing is easy.• Coursera has proven quicker to learn

than Xerte, and consequently should be easier to maintain in the long run.

Coursera Pros

• Using Coursera will allow us to provide certification for the many users who have contacted us over the years to request it.

Coursera Cons

• The content is less accessible – user needs to be enrolled.

• In-built documentation for teachers is sparse. (N.B. institutional support at University of Edinburgh meant this was not a significant issue in our case.)