The University today (11 March) launches a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), giving people the opportunity to explore Portus, the ancient port of Rome.
The 鈥榳ill enable anyone to study online, for free, wherever they are in the world 鈥� while benefitting from the decades of research carried out by the University鈥檚 Portus聽Project at this historic site located around 30 miles from Italy鈥檚 capital city.聽 The MOOC requires no previous experience, there is no admission interview and no need to have ever studied online or even in higher education.
Director of the Portus聽Project, Professor Simon Keay聽comments:聽 鈥淭his course will focus on how we work at Portus and what it tells us about imperial Rome.聽 The port was Rome鈥檚 gateway to the Mediterranean 鈥損laying a key role in trade across Europe and beyond.聽 It was vital to the survival of the Roman Empire.鈥�
鈥淚 have had the privilege of working at Portus since the late 1990s and it is very exciting to think we can now help people from all walks of life to learn online by drawing from our team鈥檚 extensive knowledge of this highly significant archaeological site.鈥�
Portus was the maritime port of ancient Rome and together with the neighbouring river port at Ostia, was the focus of a network of ports serving imperial Rome between the mid-1st century AD and the 6th century AD.
The MOOC聽will provide access to Portus聽Project research data, which was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the British School at Rome and the University of Southampton, with the support of the Soprintendenza聽Speciale聽per i Beni Archeologici di Roma.聽 It also provides an insight into the wide range of digital technologies employed to record, analyse and present the site.
The course will last six weeks, requiring two to three hours of study per week.聽 There will be recorded lectures, carefully selected readings, planned learning activities and online formative multiple-choice tests.聽 A discussion forum will promote lively debate around weekly topics and help build an online community centred on particular areas of interest.
The MOOC is open for registration today (11 March) and starts on 19 May 2014.
For participants, the benefits of taking part in a MOOC are clear; they get an engaging educational experience that develops new skills and understanding. In addition, there is no cost, no travel and the timing is flexible so that they can fit study in around their work and other activities. Although there is no official academic credit awarded for successful completion, students will be able to purchase a printed Statement of Participation.
The Southampton MOOCs聽will be delivered by FutureLearn, a company set up by the Open University, which will offer MOOCs聽by many of the UK鈥檚 top universities, including Southampton. By delivering the University鈥檚 MOOCs聽through FutureLearn, it will enable people all over the world to enjoy learning at Southampton through free courses accessible on mobiles, tablets or PCs.
If you would like to know more or to register for the 鈥楢rchaeology of Portus MOOC鈥�, please visit:
聽聽or take a look at the video here:
Our Archaeology of Portus聽MOOC will give you an insight into the teaching and research taking place in Archaeology. If you鈥檇 like to continue your learning beyond the course, you might like to consider the post-graduate and lifelong learning opportunity in the Faculty of Humanities.
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are free online courses that you can study anywhere, anytime, for free.聽 They typically run for four to six weeks and they give you an opportunity to interact with your fellow participants from around the world. Our MOOCs will give you an insight into some of the world-changing research and inspirational teaching taking place at the University.