#whiteboarding #visible-work #design-thinking #collaboration #course-design #online-learning #instructional-design #in-person-work #learning-architecture > [!summary]+ Summary > This page describes some of my experience creating a MOOC at the IMF. This includes the interests I needed to balance and a strategy I used to build collaboration and consensus around module design. (See the bottom of this page for the results of this activity.) # Macroeconomic Diagnostics (MDSx) course design This was a very challenging and fun project. On one hand I was working with a senior subject matter expert (SME) who had strong ideas on how the course should be arranged; and one the hand, I was working with a junior SME who was more interested in ensuring that his colleagues agreed with the approach. Because of this difference, I ended up being in the middle, while also striving to create a consistent learning experience throughout. I used my whiteboard as a way to help us see the work. ## Module planning and design The below image is the outline I drew for Module 2 of the MDSx course. ![[20170403_MDSx_M02_Final_Dev_Plan.jpeg]] Much of this outline focuses on ordering videos because this was where I had to start to grab my partners’ attention. By creating a visible map of videos and structure, my partners were encouraged to talk through and consider all the additional elements for a complete course. For example, ensuring content that learners could read, click on, interact with, and engage with one other. We could also talk about the placement and order of assessments. ## 🎯 Results This activity helped me get two different SMEs on the same page. By visually working out the flow of modules, the SME partners were able to see the direction more clearly and better understand the needs as we discussed them. Ultimately, the outcome was more about building teamwork than course design—and it worked. ## References - Macroeconomic Diagnostics (MDSx) - [Online training course catalog](https://www.imf.org/en/Capacity-Development/Training/ICDTC/Courses/MDSx) - [Listing on edX](https://www.imf.org/en/Capacity-Development/Training/ICDTC/Courses/MDSx)