Join our free online course on child development
Enroll now and start with our Massive Open Online Course in May
Utrecht University's Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Understanding Child Development - from Synapse to Society has proved a success: "I liked this course very much, and I feel sad it is over already," we heard from one of our participants. We have good news for those who would like to give it (another) try: the MOOC will start again on 7 May. Enroll now via Coursera.
Jorg Huijding, associate professor of Clinical Child and Family Studies hosts the MOOC. Huijding and various Utrecht-based researchers, such as evolutionist Frans de Waal, offer participants insights about the many aspects of child development. With this MOOC you will learn to think more holistically about this subject. And it offers you new and surprising angles to approach developmental issues. As one of the participants told us: "I appreciated how we considered multiple domains of development at different levels."
Is this a course for you?
This course is open to everyone interested in child development. Everyone with an internet connection and academic thinking skills can join. More than 3,000 people have enrolled in the course so far. You too are welcome to follow us on a journey to understand child development from synapse to society!
Interested in participating?
This year's starting dates for the MOOC 'Understanding Child Development – from Synapse to Society' are:
- 7 May, 2018
- 3 September, 2018
- 19 November, 2018
You can register online via Coursera. Enrollment is free – participants only pay a fee if they want to obtain a certificate at the end of the course.
I love psychology and philosophy, and wanted to see if I still had it in me to learn and study. I was proud to see I succeeded.
Course design
The MOOC 'Understanding child development – from Synapse to Society' takes six weeks to complete, and requires 4 hours of study per week. Every weekly programme consists of two six minute web-lectures, interviews, quizzes and reading material.
Week 1 Introduction: explanation of the developmental systems approach to understand child development, and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration.
Week 2 Brain and motor development
Week 3 Cognitive development
Week 4 Speech and language development
Week 5 Social/emotional development
Week 6 Wrap up: integration of all the previously presented and explained material
If you have any questions about this course, please visit the Help Center on the Coursera website, where you will be able to find an answer to most questions. If you can't find the answer to your question there, please contact Coursera.
Find out more about the MOOC
Want to learn more about the making of this MOOC, and how it was designed? Jorg Huijding told us all about how this course was developed within Utrecht University's strategic theme Dynamics of Youth.
Dynamics of Youth
In dealing with social problems, you need to start with the children. Utrecht University invests in resilient youth. Within the research theme Dynamics of Youth, scientists from all fields of expertise work together in order to better understand child development. How can we help young people to grow and thrive in our rapidly changing society?