Massekurser

Massekurser is a term used primarily in Danish and Norwegian contexts to refer to courses designed for large numbers of participants. They are typically characterized by standardized curricula, scalable delivery methods, and fixed schedules, enabling institutions to educate many learners at relatively low cost per participant. Massekurser may be offered by universities, vocational training providers, libraries, or community organizations and can include both online and in-person formats.

Delivery formats commonly include asynchronous online modules, video lectures, quizzes, and automated assessments, sometimes complemented by live webinars or large-group sessions. They often employ a modular structure and clear learning outcomes, with enrollment open to broad audiences and limited opportunities for individualized instruction.

Target audiences vary from school students and adult learners to professionals seeking continuing education. They are closely related to MOOCs (massive open online courses) and other forms of scalable learning, but the term is used across regional contexts to emphasize large-scale reach rather than online openness alone.

Advantages include scalability, accessibility, consistency of content, and lower costs per participant. Potential drawbacks include reduced personalized feedback, higher dropout rates, and the need for robust digital infrastructure and quality assurance to maintain learning outcomes.

Historical and regional notes: The rise of online learning and MOOC initiatives in the 2010s contributed to increased adoption of massekurser in Nordic education systems. See also MOOC, e-learning, distance education.