Museums and the Web 2018 lightning talk: A case study of In the Studio: Postwar Abstract Painting, MoMAâs 1st studio MOOC on Coursera, focusing on how the course has fostered engagement and community by inviting learners to make and share their own artworks.
https://mw18.mwconf.org/proposal/digital-engagement-and-online-community-building-in-massive-open-online-courses/
coursera.org/moma
mo.ma/painting
In the Global Studio: Creativity and Community in a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)
1. In the Global Studio
Creativity and Community in a
Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)
Kelly Cannon
MoMA, New York
2. 8 MOOCs:
3 for teachers
5 for general
audience
Free or $49 certificate
5K-200K enrolled
learners in
each course
3. In the Studio: Postwar Abstract Painting
Willem de Kooning
Yayoi Kusama
Agnes Martin
Barnett Newman
Jackson Pollock
Ad Reinhardt
Mark Rothko
Introduces learners to the materials and techniques of seven artists through weekly
demonstration videos, close looking at works in MoMAâs collection, audio slideshows,
and other resources. Learners are invited to use the artistsâ works as points of departure
for making and sharing their own artworks in the discussion forums.
5. In the Studio: Cubism Live Q&A with Corey DâAugustine
Activations with MoMAâs YouTube Channel
New demonstration videos and Live Q&As are released on MoMAâs YouTube channel and
shared with learners in the course. In the Studio was the most viewed playlist on MoMAâs
YouTube channel in 2017
7. In the Studio: Art by MoMAâs Online Community
Exhibition at MoMA, January 2018
3 week open call
500 submissions
All were included and
displayed in
slideshows at the
Museum
8. In the Studio: Art by MoMAâs Online Community
Exhibition at MoMA, January 2018
9. âI'm really happy that my image will be included in the exhibition.
It's a very empowering thing for the new year.â Magda, Poland
âI really enjoyed the course and made good contacts with artists
overseas who still keep in touch via Facebook.â Nigel, Australia
â[The courses] are an opportunity for people like me to develop our art
horizons, ask new and bold questions to ourselves and grow as human
beings.â I.C.
âI can't thank you enough for this course. It has completely altered the
way I view this kind of art. Corey was absolutely inspiring. It is also so
good for America's image worldwide of generosity, especially now.â
Philippa, Australia
10. Museum-based MOOCs can fuel creativity,
empower participants, and build community
96% of learners said they benefited from taking one of MoMA MOOCs by:
Being inspired â Improving critical thinking skills â
Improving or learning new art-making skills
Successful strategies:
â Share artistsâ ideas and processes.
â Encourage learners to share their own creations, experiences and responses,
to foster constructive dialogue and debate.
â Collaborate on content development across platforms, including YouTube
and exhibition audio guides, from course creation through regular activations.
Hi, Iâm Kelly Cannon, Associate Educator for Interpretation, Research, and Digital Learning at MoMA in New York
I will be sharing with you a case study of In the Studio: Postwar Abstract Painting, MoMAâs 1st studio MOOC on Coursera, focusing on how the course has fostered engagement and community by inviting learners to make and share their own artworks.
For context, MoMA has been making MOOCs on Coursera since 2012: We offer 3 MOOCs on teaching with art, and 5 general audience MOOCs.
MOOC stands for massive open online course, meaning that anywhere between 5,000 and 200,000 people are enrolled in each of MoMAâs 8 MOOCs.
Learners can choose to take the entire course for free or pay $49 for a certificate of completion that is issued by Coursera.
In the Studio: Postwar Abstract Painting introduces learners to the materials and techniques of seven artists through weekly demonstration videos, close looking at works in MoMAâs collection, audio slideshows, and other resources. Learners are invited to use the artistsâ works as points of departure for making and sharing their own artworks in the discussion forums.
To give you a sense of the course experience, Iâll play the teaser: https://youtu.be/c_hplGGj9MY
Since launch in March 2017, the course has proven to be very popular and engaging,
with a current rating of 4.9/5 stars and 27,000 enrolled learners
The top countries of enrollment are: the US, India, UK, Canada, Spain, Mexico, and Russia
All course videos are created in collaboration with our digital media team and after launching the course we activate it by producing new demonstration videos and Live Q&As that are released on MoMAâs YouTube channel and shared with learners in the course. Videos are designed in a manner that will increase their chance of success on YouTube, and the strategy has worked very well thus far, with In the Studio being the most viewed playlist on MoMAâs YouTube channel in 2017
When we set out, one question we had was whether learners on a large scale would make and submit artworks in an online course. And in fact one of the most exciting outcomes has been the impact of learners sharing their images in the discussion forums.
Weâve been thrilled to see them offer constructive critique and praise for the composition or palette of othersâ artworks,
And help others who struggle with a creative block.
In the screenshot, Sandra says, âI wish I could get started painting. I donât know whatâs holding me back.â
And Diane says âlifeâs little jokes can get in the way..but I hope you throw out your fears and try again.â
And Sandra says thanks so much for taking the time to respond so positively. You inspired me to try my first stab at paintingâ-- and there it is.
The success of the discussion forums led us to organize an exhibition of learners works, and they enthusiastically responded!
A 3-week open call yielded 500 submissions, all of which were included and displayed in slideshows.
Amazing breadth of images: using alternative materials, combining the work of two artists, and making fully digital artworks on ipads or in photoshop.
200 learners attended the opening reception, including 7 who had traveled from abroad (Canada, UK, Philippines, Poland, Spain) and many who were first-time visitors to MoMA.
With the open call submissions came an outpouring of positive feedback, really confirming for us the impact of the course on peopleâs lives across the world.
In conclusion, the main takeaway is that museum-based MOOCs have real potential to fuel creativity, empower participants, and build community.
In a survey last fall, 96% of 5000 learners said they benefited from taking MoMAâs MOOCs by being inspired, improving their critical thinking skills, or learning new art-making skills.
Some of the ways that weâve done that, as Iâve discussed here, are through connecting learners with artists materials, techniques, and ideas, and encouraging them to share their own creations to foster substantive inquiry and dialogue. Weâve also made this efficient and more sustainable for our institution by collaborating on content development across platforms.
And with that, I hope you all will enroll at mo.ma/painting, and thank you!