Last updated on Apr 27, 2025

How do you align MOOC learning outcomes with industry standards and competencies?

MOOCs, or massive open online courses, are a popular way to learn new skills and knowledge online. But how do you know if your MOOC learning outcomes match the industry standards and competencies that employers are looking for? In this article, we will explore some strategies to align your MOOC learning with the relevant frameworks and benchmarks in your field.

1 Identify your goals and gaps

The first step to align your MOOC learning outcomes with industry standards and competencies is to identify your goals and gaps. What are you trying to achieve by taking a MOOC? What skills or knowledge do you want to develop or improve? How do they relate to your current or desired career path? To answer these questions, you can use tools such as self-assessments, career maps, or skill matrices to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and identify your learning needs.

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Peter Ong

Helping Japanese and Mandarin learners to enhance their workplace communication for global business success. | HRD Corp Accredited Trainer
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When I start aligning MOOC learning outcomes with industry standards and competencies, the first thing I do is get very clear about the goals I want the course to achieve. I think carefully about what specific skills or knowledge learners should walk away with and how those connect to what industries are actually looking for. At the same time, I look closely for any gaps between what is traditionally taught and what employers expect today. Sometimes the gaps are obvious when technology or practices evolve quickly, and other times it takes deeper conversations with industry partners to really understand the shifts. By identifying both the goals and the gaps early, I can build a stronger foundation for everything that comes next.

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2 Research the industry standards and competencies

The next step is to research the industry standards and competencies that are relevant to your goals and gaps. Industry standards and competencies are the sets of skills, knowledge, and behaviors that are expected or required for a certain profession or sector. They can be found in various sources, such as job descriptions, professional associations, accreditation bodies, or competency frameworks. For example, if you are interested in digital marketing, you can look at the Digital Marketing Institute's Professional Certification Standards or the American Marketing Association's Professional Certified Marketer program.

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3 Compare and align your MOOC learning outcomes

The third step is to compare and align your MOOC learning outcomes with the industry standards and competencies that you have researched. MOOC learning outcomes are the statements that describe what you will learn or be able to do by completing a MOOC. They can be found in the course syllabus, description, or objectives. To compare and align them, you can use tools such as rubrics, checklists, or matrices to map your MOOC learning outcomes to the industry standards and competencies that you want to achieve. For example, if you are taking a MOOC on social media marketing, you can use a rubric to evaluate how well the MOOC covers the competencies of the Digital Marketing Institute's Social Media Marketing Specialist certification.

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Lindsay Foster

Experienced educator | Online Learning, Accessibility. MEd
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One way to to compare and align is to take a look at your institution's course learning outcomes and see where those match to the industry standards or competencies. At our institution within our certification and health sciences programs, those industry standards and competencies are included as course level outcomes because students will be completing certification examinations at the end of their programs. Those are aligned as students progress so that by the end of their learning, they have the skills to be successful.

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4 Demonstrate and document your MOOC learning

The final step is to demonstrate and document your MOOC learning in a way that showcases your alignment with the industry standards and competencies. This can include creating a portfolio, a resume, a cover letter, or a digital badge that highlights your MOOC achievements and how they relate to your career goals and industry expectations. You can also use tools such as e-portfolios, LinkedIn, or Open Badges to showcase your MOOC learning online and share it with potential employers, colleagues, or peers.

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5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you align MOOC learning outcomes with industry standards and competencies?

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1 Identify your goals and gaps

2 Research the industry standards and competencies

3 Compare and align your MOOC learning outcomes

4 Demonstrate and document your MOOC learning

5 Here’s what else to consider

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