Abstract:

The article proposes a massive on-line course (MOOC) on Telecommunications. The course is mainly targeted to individuals with no previous education on Telecommunications (or electrical/electronic engineering in general) who, however, would like to have a grasp on the subject due to its importance for e.g. economy, business operation and everyday life. The MOOC approach was selected due to its obvious advantages of openness, flexibility, easy access and enhanced interaction with educators and peer learners.

Regarding the content of the course, it has been taken into account that telecommunications is a broad subject with several interrelated and overlapping topics that can easily confuse the inexperienced learner. To mitigate this and help the learner develop a clear overview of the overall telecommunication domain, the course has adopted a layered structure which, from bottom to top, includes six (6) modules: basic concepts, signal basics, transmission techniques (digitization, modulation and multiplexing), link types (cable, wireless, optical), telecom networks and services (dial-up, data, audiovisual and integrated) and market issues. Lower-layer modules form the background for the higher ones with the latter providing the former with application examples. For example, a telephone network is presented as consisting of all types of telecom links (cable, wireless, fiber-optic) that, in turn, employ transmission techniques such as digitization, modulation and multiplexing. Emphasis is also given to the underlying principles of each module. For example, most modulation techniques involve the effect of the information signal on a sinusoidal carrier, all link types are evaluated regarding attenuation and possibly dispersion, while telecommunication services are characterized by three basic parameters, bit rate, bit-error rate and transmission/processing delay. Apart from beginners, the course could be also targeted to electronic engineering students or graduates that would like to review, update and possibly interconnect information and knowledge obtained through separate telecommunication courses.

The MOOC will be of the “x” type (that is content based). Regarding logistics, like all MOOCs, it will employ among others:
(i) a server and client system with the necessary software,
(ii) software for creating educational material,
(iii) learning management software and
(iv) tools to be used with open-air software such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), games, simulators, educational animation and web-based tools.

Keywords:

Engineering Education, Electronic Engineering Education, MOOCs, Telecommunications.