MOOC in Regenerative Materials

Doing good is simply not enough, we need to deeply re-think our way of building and the materials we are using. Alternative solutions out of local resources such as earth, bio-based and reused materials are emerging all over the world and are triggering regenerative output, thanks to their capacity to contribute to the restoration and improvement of the surrounding natural and social environment. Furthermore, in low-income countries, promoting the use of local materials strengthen the resilience of the local population, through the reduction of economic dependency from conventional materials and construction techniques However, they are not widespread in the construction sector due to lack of information on the side of decision makers and lack of competence on the side of practitioners. ETH Zurich, with the CAS ETH in Regenerative Materials offers for the first time a training program on these materials. The CAS needs to be adapt for an international audience out of a western developing country context and a MOOC would be an adapted teaching support for this.

The CAS ETH in Regenerative Materials will be launched for the first time in January and it has already received an important attention and many applications. The use of Regenerative Materials is attracting a lot of attention all over the world in order to contribute to the necessary ecological and social transition of the construction sector.

The topic itself is definitely innovative and none other MOOC offers a similar content. Furthermore, the appropriation of the knowledge through a personal Case Study in a specific socio-economical context, constitutes a really innovative element in the pedagogy of a MOOC.This personal case-study has a huge impact on the motivation and the learning potential of the student and permits more exchange between the students via an online platform.