 This presentation introduces you to the latest option of studying on the Virtual Linguistics Campus, the MOOC option, which provides quality assured content to anyone from anywhere at any time. In the following, I will first define the principles behind our MOOCs and will then let you know how you can register and how you can become part of one of the VLC MOOCs. MOOC stands for Massive Open Online Course. Studying online means from anywhere at any time without any in-class meeting. Traditional online courses charge tuition, they carry credit, and they limit enrollment to a few dozen students to ensure interaction with their instructors. A MOOC, by contrast, is usually free, at least on the Virtual Linguistics Campus it is. And it doesn't involve credits and, well, it is massive. Massive means there is no limit as far as the number of participants is concerned. On the Virtual Linguistics Campus, these two MOOCs are ready. Introduction to Linguistics and Phonetics, Phonology and Transcription. And they will now regularly be offered. This group of MOOCs, Morphology and Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics, is under construction and both MOOCs will start later this year. Our spring term MOOCs start in April and end in May, and our fall term MOOCs start in September and end in October. That is, within these periods the content of a MOOC should be mastered. Well, and then there are no fees. Our MOOCs are free. Interested? Okay, but before you start, you have to register. However, registration is really simple. Just load the VOC homepage, www.LinguisticsMinusOnline.com and create your free account. After your account has been created, you can log in with your access data, and then you should visit the VLC registration office, where you can register for one or several classes via a few mouse clicks. After you submitted your class registration, you will receive a confirmation via email. That's it. Now, when you log in, you will first see your personalized VLC start site. On this start site, you have permanent access to many other options, such as the language index, for example, the e-lecture library, and a few more. These options are available to all VLC community members. Furthermore, you have additional options that concern general aspects, for example, your account and your profile. Most importantly, however, you will see your MOOC, or if you have registered for several MOOCs, your MOOCs. In our case, this will be the MOOC for netics, phonology, and transcription. A simple mouse click on this class name leads you to the so-called class start site. On the class start site, you have several links that allow you to access additional options, such as the link section and the class-related forum where you can discuss problems with your fellow students. So here is the class-related forum, and this is the link section. Just click on them, and then you will see what happens. Central to each class, however, are the e-learning units. Each class consists of a predefined number of units. In the case of this class, we have one introductory unit and 12 e-learning units. The introductory unit is mainly a textual repetition of what I am explaining in this video. The e-learning units contain the content of the class. Now, after class activation, the current unit, that is, the unit that is currently in focus, is marked red. So let's assume the unit phonetics is in focus, then it will be marked red. All units are represented by hyperlinks that open their unit start site. So let us illustrate this on the basis of this first unit of the phonetics, phonology, and transcription class, the unit phonetics. Here is the corresponding unit start site. All e-learning units on the virtual linguistics campus have the same structure as far as their unit start site is concerned. Thus, they have the same navigation menu on the left. So here is the navigation menu. Within the navigation menu, you have a link introduction that refers to the start screen where the central goals and topics of a unit are listed. The introduction is always displayed when you load a class start site. So here it is. The virtual session is the heart of an e-learning unit that presents the content. So a click on virtual session opens a new site which contains the content of the unit. If you click on Worksheet, an interactive electronic test that is represented and evaluated by the computer will be shown. And the link practical loads a set of questions and tasks about the virtual session that are associated with model solutions. Let us look at these main components of an e-learning unit in detail. Here is the virtual session for the unit phonetics. The virtual sessions are for you. They supply you with highly interactive multimedia content. In each virtual session, you find a link to an e-lecture which can also be directly seen via YouTube. As a special service for class members, you can also access the board content that was generated on the active board by Promethean behind me. And then there are additional integrated exercises that can be loaded via the interactive tutor. The central question you might ask yourselves at this point is how do I study all this? Well, studying online simply means go through each e-learning unit at your own pace. Study the content of the virtual session using the guiding questions. Watch the corresponding e-lecture video and optionally use the integrated tests in the interactive tutor. And if you wish, you can discuss further problems using the class related forum, which is open for all registered users of your class. And the important point is there is no pressure. You can do everything as often as you like and wherever you like. And once you're ready, then you tackle the worksheet and do the practical. But before we look at the worksheet and the practical, let us say something about the VLC assessment principles. All assessment within a MOOC is carried out on the basis of electronic tests, one per e-learning unit. Here is the electronic test, a so-called worksheet for the unit phonetics. Well, it is a relatively simple multiple choice task. Worksheets have to be passed. That is, you have to score at least 60%. If you do not reach 60% or more in a first attempt, don't worry. You can try as often as you like and no one will notice. Only if you pass, your score will be stored in the VLC database. And if you're not satisfied with your score, you can do it again and try to raise your score until you're satisfied. Last but not least, each e-learning unit is connected with a practical sheet where additional questions and problems are presented. These questions are paired with model solutions that can be retrieved according to a predefined rhythm. Whenever the red indicator on the class start side, you remember this tiny little thing here. Whenever that red indicator moves on to the next e-learning unit, you have access to the practical model solutions of its predecessors via these little symbols which will then show up. Well, and the model solution that can be retrieved via these symbols can be a textual explanation, a diagram, or even a video that explains the problem. Well, and at the end of a MOOC, you will be sent a certificate. Each participant will receive a certificate confirming their active participation. If you want a qualified certificate, you have to submit and pass the worksheets and reach an overall average of 60% or more. That's it. And what about the role of the class instructor? Well, first of all, all class instructors on the Virtual Linguistics Campus are professional linguists with a profound background in teaching linguistics. In a MOOC, however, you won't see us. And we do not really teach, so this scenario is definitely out. Rather, we supervise your activities from a distance. We try to motivate you to do your tasks in time, and we make sure that everyone is served as well as possible. Well, and from time to time, we also check the class-related forum to look at your questions and your threads. We do not use standard social media in order to keep the discussion straight and topic as well as class-related. And what does it cost? Nothing. The VLC MOOCs are free. They are our contribution to the world of learning in linguistics. And for free, you get MOOCs that are quality-assured and up-to-date and combine all modern digital media, MOOCs that support each learner type most efficiently, learners who enjoy watching video material and learners who like using interactive multimedia. So, we invite you to join us in one or several of our VLC MOOCs. The material has been created by the Marburg Linguistic Engineering Team, and it is there. The rest is up to you. We're waiting for your registration, so see you soon.