Massive Open Online Courses

The evolution of internet access brought new ways of learning and teaching, namely through Open Educational Resources (OER) – a global movement whose main objective has been to make quality education available to everyone, freely and free of charge, through information and communication technologies and different remote learning platforms. One of the best and most compelling examples of the practical application of this OER movement are MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses), which represent one of the most significant drivers of knowledge in several areas.

MOOC offer hope for a fairer and more capable society, where knowledge and personal and professional training are available to everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Institute of Medieval Studies inaugurated a cycle of MOOC on the NAU Platform: Crossed perspectives on the Middle Ages, coordinated by Adelaide Millán da Costa (UAb, IEM, NOVA FCSH), Maria João Branco (NOVA FCSH; IEM, NOVA FCSH) and Gonçalo Melo da Silva (IEM, NOVA FCSH).

These courses aim to question and deconstruct widespread misconceptions and anachronisms about the Middle Ages and thus contribute to reversing society's current uncritical adherence to online content. The courses provide a range of up-to-date materials and certified interpretations on Middle Age topics, thus establishing a bridge between historiographical research and the general public interested in or wanting to know more about this period.

Portugal in the Middle Ages: a kingdom with democratic municipalities and without towns?

Conceived and authored by Adelaide Millán da Costa and Gonçalo Melo da Silva, the first MOOC is entitled Portugal in the Middle Ages: a kingdom with democratic municipalities and without towns? To answer this provocative question, the course devotes a module to medieval councils, their origins, evolution, functioning, officers, as well as to the political communication they established between themselves, with the crown and with the aristocracy. The second module focuses on towns, looking at what towns and cities were in the medieval period, the different urban hierarchies that existed in the kingdom and how medieval men perceived and saw the urban world.

The MOOC is aimed at certain specific groups, such as students and teachers, but aims to captivate the curiosity and interest of a wider audience, since today’s societies continue to show a deep interest in the medieval period.

The course is based on audiovisual content created by the IEM and digital resources made available by various heritage institutions in Portugal and in other countries.

See the Course Programme and Learning Objectives here

This training is free and takes place on the NAU Platform (FCT-FCCN), open permanently between 18 July 2024 and 8 May 2025. It is estimated that completion of the course should not exceed 15 hours. Trainees will be able to register on the platform at any time and manage their course autonomously and with total flexibility. Assessment will take place at the end of each section through the completion of quizzes. Participants obtaining a score of 50% or more, will be able to download a digital certificate from the course’s ‘progress’ tab.

Enrolment can be made on the NAU Platform until the end of the course. To do so, simply register by following the instructions provided on the NAU Platform.

The MOOC has received enrolments by more than 850 students, coming from 14 different countries: Angola, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Mozambique, Portugal, USA and Spain (data collected on weak after the opening, on 24 July).

Geographic map of the origin of MOOC students