#OMS2012 – Novel training for North African citizen journalists

The DW Akademie is sponsoring a six-week open online course for citizen journalists from North Africa, the Maghreb and beyond. The Open Media Summit is using the innovative format of a massive online open course (MOOC), available for the first time in the region, to offer citizen journalists and digital media activists the opportunity to discuss and explore up-to-date ideas. The course, implemented through Internet videos, online discussions and on social media, is open to all. Here, you’re likely to find answers to the new format in this interview with Holger Hank, who is directing the project from DW Akademie headquarters in Bonn, Germany.

MOOCs represent a new generation of online education, the Guardian wrote. Elite universities in the US, especially, are using this new form of online learning. But just what exactly is a MOOC?

A MOOC is an open, online course, with the emphasis on “open” rather than “course.” The goal is to combine webinars, online resources and interaction, in order to address several topics at once. And a MOOC lives off what its participants decide to contribute, so to speak.

What is a MOOC?

Instead of a closed world of information, MOOCS are about opening up knowledge through exchange that occurs over the Internet.

Isn’t it easy to get lost in this wealth of information?

Participants can also organize the information as they see fit, for example by downloading background material onto their own personal computers. The live events that take place once a week are also there to provide an overview. Those who want to know more or who would like to contribute, can use the Facebook site or post comments on the website.

Toward whom exactly is the course oriented?

Holger Hank

The course is oriented toward everyone who publishes on the Internet and has an interest in getting their voice heard. This includes, but is not limited to, professional journalists – since there are many people in North Africa who are active and relevant online, but who don’t work in traditional media.

What are the highlights, the things that shouldn’t be missed?

I’m particularly excited about the live events, which include experts from the region who typically have a lot of experience with the Internet. I’m quite sure that I will learn a lot from them.

Where can I find information, and how can I participate via social media?

The online “headquarters” for the project is the website: http://dw-akademie.de/oms2012 – you can find all the information there. Exchange will surely occur on our Facebook group page. And the Twitter hashtag is #oms2012, that’s a good place to follow what’s currently happening with the project. There is also a Twitter account.

What will I have gotten out of this in the end, if I participate?

Up-to-date information and best-practice examples in four areas: regional coverage, how to deal with online sources, data-driven journalism and coping with censorship. Contact with experts. And hopefully, positive experience with networked learning!

What makes you think the MOOC format will work in North Africa and the Maghreb?

We at the DW Akademie and the Deutsche Welle know that a lot of younger people are really active online in this region. When we proposed the project concept, we received a lot of good feedback. I’m quite sure that there will be great interest and intensive exchange.

Will there be other courses like this in the future?

This is a pilot project – at this point this format is being tried out everywhere. After evaluating the project, we’ll decide whether to try other, similar projects.

Interview: Steffen Leidel