One of the TEHIC project’s (Towards European Heritage Interpretation Curriculum) key achievements has been the development of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) focused on heritage interpretation. Officially presented in Gothenburg in May 2025, the course represents a significant step towards making high-quality training accessible to a wide audience while promoting professional development in the field. Developed by the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage (IAPH), the MOOC piloted a proposed European curriculum in heritage interpretation and incorporated interactive digital resources and a pedagogical approach that promotes inclusive and progressive learning.
The MOOC is structured into five sections: an introductory unit followed by four thematic modules. In total, the course comprises 16 teaching units, which must be accessed sequentially: that means that participants are required to successfully complete a questionnaire at the end of each section in order to unlock the subsequent one. Each unit featured an explanatory video, a downloadable PDF document containing the theoretical content, and a multiple-choice self-assessment test. This pedagogical design allows to support progressive and autonomous learning, combining visual, written, and interactive resources.
The voiceovers for the videos have been recorded by professional heritage interpreters. Moreover, the video resources have been provided by all project partners, making the MOOC a true team effort.
From a technical perspective, the Moodle platform has been configured to allow manual uploading of content, visual customisation aligned with the TEHIC project’s identity, management of various user roles, and participant self-enrolment. Mandatory assessments have been established, with a minimum passing score of 7 out of 10 required to progress through the modules. Upon successful completion of the entire course, participants automatically receive a certificate issued by the University of Gothenburg.
Analysis of the pilot course results has revealed that 285 individuals participated, the majority of whom were young adults aged 18 to 30, from various European countries, and even from much more distant places like Australia. They generally held high academic qualifications and demonstrated clear interest in digital resources, heritage interpretation, and interpretive communication. Participants expressed a strong preference for practical activities and video-based content.
Evaluation outcomes of the pilot have been overwhelmingly positive. All modules have received average ratings exceeding 4.5 out of 5. Participants have particularly appreciated the platform’s accessibility, intuitive navigation and usefulness of the self-assessment questionnaires. In terms of learning impact, most respondents have reported that the course met their expectations and learning goals, and it has also fostered interest in further professional development in heritage interpretation.
Supplementary documentation has been especially well received, as it has enriched the core content and provided practical examples. Here, we should also highlight the Handbook of Best Practices in HI. Among the improvements, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section has been implemented in the currently available MOOC.
In conclusion, the TEHIC project has successfully designed and delivered an innovative course tailored to current training needs in heritage interpretation. It is accessible to a wide, multilingual audience, with a practical focus aimed at supporting professional development. The previous test results demonstrate a positive impact both in terms of knowledge acquisition and in stimulating continued interest in the discipline.
