Reaching out through the MOOC Introduction to Calculus

Abstract

[EN] The MOOC Introduction to Calculus was launched in December 2018, in time for students, in transition from school, to use for satisfying mathematics prerequisites for tertiary-level degrees. The MOOC was conceived holistically, contributing towards improving diversity and inclusion, creating opportunities for participants throughout the world, including those from regions suffering from political or economic instability. The MOOC facilitates pathways towards higher education through greater awareness of mathematics and its usefulness. This became acutely relevant for students facing disruptions from COVID-19 and forced into remote learning. Historical narratives permeate the MOOC, providing students with perspectives that they might not see in typical classrooms or textbooks. The MOOC alleviates frustration from students who have difficulty navigating online material or who have had negative experiences in learning mathematics. It uses a mastery model of learning and was designed using principles from the theory of threshold concepts and learning phases in the SOLO taxonomy.