2014 Congressional Elections MOOC
MOOC stands for Massive Open Online Course interested in creating or hosting MOOC courses go to their website: mooc.org
This website was created for a MOOC online course that would cover a wide variety of topics related to the 2014 Congressional Elections (both the U.S. House and U. S. Senate). The content below was taken from its archived pages.
If you "attended" this particular 2014 Congressional Elections MOOC course this should be a nostalgic trip as you read the content below. I thoroughly enjoyed the particular course since the 2014 Congressional elections critically impacted Obama's second term. During one of the modules I was intently following the lecture when my two cats decided that my desk where I had my IMAC set up was the perfect location to play a rough game of "Catch Me If You Can" resulting in a large mug of black coffee falling off the table and spilling its entire content on the oriental carpet under the table. I freaked out since coffee stains. I opened a new window on the computer and did a quick search for oriental area rug cleaning nyc and lucked out. A week later, it arrived back without any trace of the coffee spill and great looking fringe. Meanwhile I was still enjoying the 2014 Congressional Elections MOOC course sans cats from the room with my computer. I couldn't and wouldn't give up my coffee, but the cats could play elsewhere in the apartment.
Now onward to the 2014 Congressional Elections MOOC course information.
What Will We Be Doing?
This MOOC will begin on March 3 and feature three modules per week for the next eight weeks ending the week of April 21st. It will be offered on Blackboard’s Course sites and is completely free. The first 500 completing the course will receive a non-degree certificate. You can sign up for the course by using a direct link which will be provided in a few days.
This MOOC is for those who wish to understand the 2014 Congressional elections and their impact. More is at stake than which party will control the House and the Senate! These elections will have an impact on the future policy choices the country will pursue, will help determine the success or failure of various programs supported by President Obama, and the 2014 elections will help set the stage for the 2016 presidential elections.
Each module will provide you with the information you need to better understand these elections. Presentations will include interviews and descriptions of actual campaign tactics and plans. The emphasis is on understanding the realities of a campaign and what is to be expected. You can suggest course topics and content by accessing our blog by February 22, 2014.
The MOOC is designed for those wanting an unbiased and objective analysis of the important elections. So please join us if you want to learn more about these elections and their potential impact on American public policy.
This MOOC offers no academic course credit, but it will provide you with the equivalent information taught in my credit bearing course. There are no tests or papers required. You will be asked to answer several takeaway questions at the end of each module. There will not be required readings but each MOOC lecture will include some suggested readings and other resources you will find helpful.
This MOOC is possible due to a Thinkfinity grant Professor Caputo received from Pace University. This grant was part of a series of grants made possible by a grant to Pace University by the Verizon Foundation. In addition Professor Caputo received an undergraduate research grant with Enxhi Brahja from Pace University. Enxhi has assisted in all phases of the project as part of the undergraduate research grant. We want to thank Pace's Office of the Provost and the Verizon Foundation for their support. We also want to thank Tobias Laforest who assisted us with the instructional technology. We will be acknowledging the others who have assisted at specific points as we proceed with the MOOC.
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Meet the Team
David A. Caputo
David A. Caputo received his BA from Miami University and his graduate degrees from Yale University. He has been involved with congressional and presidential elections since 1970 including teaching various election courses, serving as a consultant to various election reporting organizations and as an on-air commentator for ABC Radio, CNN and Fox News. He also has worked closely with C-SPAN as it developed its extensive video archives. He currently is President Emeritus and Professor of Political Science at Pace University in New York City where he is teaching a Congressional Elections Course. He has published numerous books and scholarly articles
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Enxhi Brahja
Enxhi Brahja is a sophomore at Pace University. She is currently studying Political Science/Economics and is planning on attending Law School upon graduation. Enxhi was selected to do undergraduate research with Dr. Caputo this academic year. She is an avid Wall Street Journal reader and enjoys traveling around the world. She has been involved in both the Federal Reserve Challenge and the Up to Us Competition.
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Tobias Laforest
Tobias Laforest is a senior at Pace University. He majors in Business Economics with a minor in Digital Art. Tobias has become increasingly involved at his school, leading the Economics Society and the Up to Us campaign. Most recently he has been brought on by the Student Government Association and the Roteract club to manage their marketing teams. Upon graduation Tobias hopes to work in the NYC startup scene developing real solutions for tomorrow. He was brought onto the project to manage the website and develop innovative tools to promote the MOOC.
More Background on CongressionalElections2014.com
The 2014 Congressional Elections MOOC was a free, non-credit online course offered by Pace University through Blackboard's CourseSites platform. The course aimed to provide an unbiased and objective analysis of the 2014 U.S. congressional elections, focusing on their impact on American public policy, President Obama's second term, and the 2016 presidential elections.
Course Structure and Content
The MOOC commenced on March 3, 2014, and spanned eight weeks, with three modules released each week. The curriculum covered a broad spectrum of topics related to the 2014 congressional elections, including campaign strategies, the role of the media, campaign finance, and analyses of specific House and Senate races. The course also examined the implications of the election outcomes on future policy decisions and the political landscape leading up to the 2016 presidential election.
Each module was designed to equip participants with the necessary information to comprehend the complexities of the elections. The presentations included interviews and descriptions of actual campaign tactics and plans, emphasizing the practical realities of political campaigns. Participants were encouraged to engage with takeaway questions at the end of each module to reinforce their understanding. While there were no mandatory readings, each lecture provided suggested resources for further exploration.
Instructors and Contributors
The course was led by Dr. David A. Caputo, President Emeritus and Professor of Political Science at Pace University. Dr. Caputo brought extensive experience in analyzing congressional and presidential elections, having served as a consultant and on-air commentator for various media outlets. He was supported by undergraduate research assistant Enxhi Brahja, a sophomore studying Political Science and Economics at Pace University, and Tobias Laforest, a senior majoring in Business Economics with a minor in Digital Art, who managed the website and developed promotional tools for the MOOC.
Development and Support
The MOOC was made possible through a Thinkfinity grant awarded to Dr. Caputo by Pace University, funded by the Verizon Foundation. Additional support came from an undergraduate research grant with Enxhi Brahja. The development team also acknowledged the assistance of Tobias Laforest in instructional technology and other contributors throughout the project's progression.
Platform and Accessibility
Hosted on Blackboard's CourseSites, the MOOC was accessible to a wide audience interested in understanding the 2014 congressional elections. CourseSites is an open online learning platform that enables educators to reach learners globally. The course was listed on Class Central, a popular search engine and review site for online courses and MOOCs, which provided an overview of the course content and structure.
Cultural and Social Significance
The 2014 Congressional Elections MOOC represented a significant effort in utilizing digital platforms to disseminate political education to a broad audience. By offering free access to comprehensive analyses of the congressional elections, the course contributed to the democratization of knowledge and encouraged informed civic participation. The MOOC format allowed individuals from diverse backgrounds to engage with complex political topics, reflecting the growing trend of online education in expanding access to learning opportunities.
Media Coverage and Reception
While specific reviews of the 2014 Congressional Elections MOOC are limited, the course was included in Class Central's list of free online courses starting in March 2014, indicating its recognition within the online learning community. The inclusion in such listings suggests that the course was part of the broader movement of MOOCs gaining popularity during that period, aiming to provide accessible education on timely and relevant topics.
Impact and Legacy
The 2014 Congressional Elections MOOC exemplified the potential of MOOCs to provide timely and relevant educational content aligned with current events. By focusing on the 2014 congressional elections, the course offered participants insights into the electoral process, campaign strategies, and the broader implications of election outcomes on public policy and future political developments. The course's structure, combining expert analysis with interactive components, served as a model for future MOOCs aiming to engage learners in the study of political science and related fields.
The 2014 Congressional Elections MOOC provided a comprehensive and accessible platform for individuals seeking to understand the complexities of the U.S. congressional elections. Through expert-led modules, interactive discussions, and a focus on real-world applications, the course contributed to the broader educational landscape by promoting informed civic engagement and understanding of the political process. Its development and execution highlighted the collaborative efforts of academic institutions, funding organizations, and digital platforms in expanding access to education on a global scale.