This article evaluates the impact of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Marine Litter designed to address the growing environmental problem of marine plastic pollution. Developed by the Open Universiteit in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the MOOC has been running since 2015 and has attracted over 33,000 participants globally.
The researchers conducted an online questionnaire among participants who took the MOOC during its first five years (2015-2020) to assess its effectiveness in increasing knowledge, inspiring action, and creating broader impact. The study received 362 responses from participants in 92 different countries, with respondents representing diverse ages, educational backgrounds, and occupations.
The MOOC was structured in two tracks: a Leadership track (two blocks with approximately 10 hours of workload) providing basic concepts and strategies, and an Expert track (six additional blocks with approximately 30 hours of workload) offering more in-depth knowledge. Originally offered only in English, by 2019 the course was available in seven languages to increase global accessibility.
The results showed that the MOOC had a significant impact in multiple ways. Over half (64%) of respondents considered their action plans developed during the MOOC to be successful, with 56% reporting these actions were still ongoing years later. These included initiatives like establishing water refill stations to reduce plastic bottle use, creating environmental education programs, and organizing beach cleanups.
The majority of respondents (72%) reported that they had taught or shared knowledge from the MOOC with others, reaching an estimated total of over 57,000 people, including the general public, students, friends, and policy makers. Many teachers incorporated MOOC materials into their own courses, while others used the knowledge to formulate national policies, generate guidelines, and train policy makers.
The MOOC influenced participants on multiple levels: 86% reported it affected them personally through behavior change, increased awareness, and greater knowledge; 70% used the knowledge in their current work; 61% applied it in volunteer activities; and 73% were inspired to pursue further studies on the subject. The MOOC also facilitated networking, with participants connecting to NGOs, communities, and policy makers to implement actions.
The researchers conclude that the MOOC successfully met its objectives of increasing knowledge, stimulating leadership, and providing opportunities for action-oriented learning. They emphasize that environmental education, particularly when designed with activating learning forms and illustrative examples that respond to participants' motivations, can effectively inspire action against marine plastic pollution. The study also highlights the value of MOOCs in connecting stakeholders globally and supporting capacity development to address complex environmental challenges.
The Bottom Line
This study by Lohr et al. (2024) assessed the impact of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Marine Litter after five years of implementation. The MOOC, developed by Open Universiteit and UNEP, aimed to increase knowledge about marine litter, stimulate leadership, and provide opportunities for action-oriented learning. Through an online questionnaire completed by 362 former participants from 92 countries, researchers found the MOOC had significant impact: 64% of respondents reported successful action plans, with 56% still active years later. The majority (72%) shared knowledge with others, reaching an estimated 57,000+ people. Participants applied MOOC content in their careers (70%), volunteer work (61%), and further studies (73%). The MOOC created a snowball effect, with participants establishing networks, initiatives, and educational programs globally. The findings demonstrate that online environmental education, when designed with activating learning methods and illustrative examples, can effectively inspire informed action against marine plastic pollution and develop leadership at multiple levels of society.