Supporting families and educators through the VIPPSTAR MOOCs

What is a MOOC?

MOOC stands for Massive Open Online Course. MOOCs are structured online learning environments designed to make educational content available flexibly to large numbers of learners. They are usually organised into modules and may include videos, readings, practical activities, exercises and opportunities for feedback.

Because they can be accessed through a computer, tablet or smartphone, MOOCs allow engagement with the materials at their own pace and revisit them whenever needed. Originally developed by universities, they are now widely used for professional development, personal learning and the acquisition of new knowledge and skills.

Why are MOOCs part of VIPPSTAR?

Children and young people with visual impairment (VI), including cerebral visual impairment (CVI), may have different needs at different stages of their development. Parents, carers and educators therefore need reliable, accessible and age-appropriate information to help them understand these needs and support children and young people in everyday life.

VIPPSTAR is developing a set of MOOCs for the families and educators of children and young people involved in the project’s clinical trials. The aim is to complement the project’s clinical and technological interventions with evidence-informed educational resources, supporting families and professionals throughout the different intervention pathways.

How are the VIPPSTAR MOOCs organised?

The training materials are organised into three complementary learning pathways, corresponding to the three age groups and intervention areas addressed by the project:

• MOOC G1 – early childhood: designed for parents and carers of very young children with VI, up to 35 months of age. The course is connected to the VIPPSTAR telerehabilitation pathway and addresses visual, cognitive, motor, emotional and social development. It will also provide practical guidance on supporting children in everyday activities and managing some of the challenges experienced by children with VI and their families.
• MOOC G2 – childhood: designed primarily for parents and carers of children with CVI in the project’s 3–12 years old group. It will introduce visual functioning and the ways in which CVI relates with development and daily life. The course will also explain the aims and structure of the JOYVision serious game developed within VIPPSTAR.
• MOOC G3 – later childhood and adolescence: intended for young people aged 8–18, as well as their parents and educators. It will focus on physical activity, autonomy and wellbeing, exploring the physical, psychological and social benefits of exercise for children and adolescents with VI. Practical materials will describe and demonstrate accessible exercises designed to promote strength, movement confidence, body awareness and active participation in everyday life.

What will families and educators find in the courses?

The VIPPSTAR MOOCs bring together scientific literature and resources developed by the project partners. The contents are being selected, synthesised and redesigned for parents, carers, educators and, where appropriate, children and adolescents.

The courses will combine different types of learning materials, including:

• short educational videos;
• written transcripts;
• summary infographics and diagrams;
• practical demonstrations and real-life examples;
• additional resources and guidance.

The MOOCs will be multilingual and delivered through Moodle platform, a widely used online learning platform. Accessibility and quality will be embedded throughout the development process by applying Universal Design for Learning principles, providing content in multiple accessible formats, and continuously refining both the materials and the Moodle environment through feedback from users and stakeholders.

What happens next?

The first Moodle-based demonstrators for the three MOOCs have now been prepared. They illustrate the expected structure and user experience of the final courses through examples of multilingual content, videos, written resources, infographics and practical demonstrations.

The next phase will focus on completing the full learning pathways, harmonising the different language versions, strengthening accessibility checks and incorporating feedback from users and stakeholders. The courses will also be further aligned with the three VIPPSTAR intervention pathways and prepared for use during the project’s clinical trials.

Through these MOOCs, VIPPSTAR aims to provide families and educators with accessible knowledge and practical resources, helping them participate more confidently in the project’s interventions and support the development, autonomy and wellbeing of children and adolescents with VI.