Online course design in higher education : case study : sustainable polyester production

The purpose of this thesis is to design and publish an online course focusing on Polyester production and the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable alternatives on the LUT MOOC Platform. The course content is based on a previous research conducted by Vilho Pakkanen in connection with the Threading-CO₂ project which focuses on the production of polyester from CO₂ that has been harnessed from waste streams such as the industrial sector. The design of online courses like traditional classroom courses revolves around the presentation of information and then the assessment of the students’ knowledge of the topic. In this ever-changing world, the need for improved online learning is continually increasing especially since the Covid-19 pandemic when online learning platforms saw an explosion of growth. Various pedagogical techniques are need in order to ensure the course’s content is relevant and engaging enough to retain the learner’s attention, particularly when looking at the high levels of online course dropouts. While also aiming to stimulate the learner in a meaningful way during assessments and online activities. The integrity of which has been called into question during the advent of AI. A vast array of AI resources and tools have become available to both the learner and teacher over recent years both improving and hindering learning. Different AI services are reviewed and compared.