Like the printing press, over 500 years ago, the Internet is creating an explosion of shared knowledge. NMU’s Sam M. Cohodas Professor, Tawni Ferrarini is sharing her knowledge with the world by offering NMU’s first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course). Ferrarini helps Associate Professor of Economics Hugo Eyzaguirre direct the Center for Economics Education and Entrepreneurship at NMU, and she has partnered with the Stavros Center for Economics Education at Florida State University to offer the MOOC.

Her MOOC “Common Sense Economics for Life” is based on her co-authored book Common Sense Economics:  What Everyone Should Know about Wealth and Prosperity. There is no cost, and takes between 10-15 hours to complete. “The MOOC itself is just an appetizer to get people to think about learning more about different aspects of their lives,” Ferrarini said.” So far, over 4,000 students have enrolled in the course in the four semesters she has offered it. “It is incredible outreach, there are so many ways to touch people’s lives now, and you never know when those MOOC points of contact will spill over into your regular courses,” Ferrarini said.

Ferrarini admits that there are a lot of window shoppers in the MOOC world, and only about 4% of those who enroll actually complete the entire course. Nevertheless, she is convinced such online experiences have a place in the future of education. “When you look at the brick and mortar institution and the challenges it faces, you know that transformation is under way, and we are either going to be riding the wave or be drowned by it,” said Ferrarini. “Competition in my world is a good thing. When I see other people succeeding, I have a tendency to ask what are they are doing and how can I learn from it. So, I think it’s a good thing we are being challenged to think about how we are reaching our multimedia students.”

MOOCs do allow for tremendous reach, and her “Common Sense Economics for Life” course has drawn interest from people around the globe. Their experiences vary, and their perspective influences their interactions with course materials and resources. “A man in Venezuela commented about the challenges of having to account for rampant inflation and 90% spike in market prices when putting together a monthly budget. A woman in Syria noted her difficulty in leaving her country to seek economic and political stability. Doing so could be life threatening. So, shopping for a steady local government by voting with her feet was not a viable option in Syria which is the case in the U.S.,” Ferrarini said. U.S. students, especially those living in the remote U.P., can use their MOOC experiences to broaden their understanding of how social, political, business, and economic considerations act and interact to influence decisions by individuals, by sectors or groups and nations. This, in part, helps explain why some nations prosper and individuals make different consumption, investment, and saving decisions across households, states, countries, and time.

In 12-15 hours over any period prior to December 31, 2015, anyone who completes the Common Sense Economics MOOC receive four badges if they earn 80 percent or higher. The Key Economic Elements, Why Some Nations Prosper, Economics of Government, and Financial Fitness badge can be referenced on a resume or posted on LinkedIn or other social media accounts. “The badges may mean little to us who are used to thinking about full degree programs, but to the people who are a part of different global collaborative networks like GitHub, badges do have significance,” Ferrarini said. She also pointed out, “This experience is intended to offer a personal complement to the accredited college campus experience.  It is not a substitute.”

On the for-credit front, Ferrarini and her colleagues in NMU’s Economics Department offer both seated classes and online classes. The Departments minor has been online since 2000. Ferrarini uses the same materials in both offerings. The only difference is how she interacts with students. Ferrarini believes there is still value in the “chalk and talk” method of presentation, but she also recommends faculty consider expanding into online instruction. “You don’t have to know everything about the instructional technology, but you can challenge yourself to make small incremental changes by working with NMU’s Center for Teaching and Learning,” Ferrarini added.

Ferrarini hopes her partnership with Stavros Center at FSU will help NMU grow, gain resources and expertise from a center at a Research One institution. FSU Foundation support made the development of the MOOC possible. NMU receives institutional credit for Ferrarini’s digital work, publications, and content development.

Since 2013 Ferrarini, Dr. Eyzaguirre, and other facilitators have hosted more than twelve Common Sense Economics for Life workshops involving over 200 high school teachers. Ferrarini estimates these workshops will impact over 50,000 students.

Ferrarini feels NMU is a great place because it supports professional growth, development and collaborations with other universities that can help attract, retain, and create new student opportunities at NMU.

Faculty, staff, students and friends of NMU are invited to join and complete the CSE MOOC. Register here. Faculty interested in assigning the MOOC as bonus work can contact Dr. Ferrarini at tferrari@nmu.edu.