FAQ about the MOOC

The course is designed for all stakeholders involved in occupational safety and health management (e.g. managers / supervisors, occupational health physicians, HR managers, occupational health managers, safety and health specialists... or any stakeholder of occupational health concerns).

There are no mandatory prerequisites for this course.

You can get access to the course content by registering for PsyHealth worXs! on edX: RWTHx: PsyHealth worXs! Psychosocial Health Prevention and Work standards | edX.

Unfortunately, due to copyright matters, we cannot offer to download the videos.

The course usually takes place in the last week of October and ends in the first week of December.

All the information is presented in short sessions that you can follow at your own pace, wherever you are! There are the following learning formats:

• WEEK 1: Introduction to psychosocial risk assessment
• WEEK 2: How to conduct a psychosocial risk assessment?
• WEEK 3: Risk management
• WEEK 4: Interventions
• WEEK 5: Evaluation of the effectiveness
• WEEK 6: Documentation and Continuation

• What is work-related stress?
• Why should you conduct a psychosocial risk assessment?
• What are the scientific foundations and legal obligations related to psychosocial risk assessment?
• Which typical obstacles to psychosocial risk assessment are you likely to encounter?
• How do you assess work characteristics and evaluate them as risks?
• How do you design, implement, and evaluate interventions?
• What should you consider when documenting and continuing the process?
• What insights do experts and practitioners offer?

• In weeks 2, 3, 4 and 5, you will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge you have gained in practice. In a virtual environment, you will accompany the psychosocial risk assessment process in a hospital. The objective is to contribute to an effective and sustainable strategy for implementing the psychosocial risk assessment.
• At the beginning of the game, you choose one of three role options that best reflects your professional situation: Leadership Role, Advisory Role, or Participatory Role. Throughout the game, you take on the perspective of your selected role within a steering group. You will apply your knowledge, make decisions, and receive feedback on your actions.
• The Serious Game consists of four parts. You will play one of the four parts each week, and it will take around 45 minutes per part. In each part, you will collect points that reflect your individual learning progress. After completing all four parts, you will receive an overall score showing the total points achieved in each part. Once you have successfully completed the game, you can request a certificate of participation.
• The Serious Game is an optional offer. Click here for the stand-alone version: PsyHealthworXs! | The Serious Game

This course runs over a total of 6 weeks. You will spend approximately 2-3 hours per week. This includes:

• Watching the lecture videos
• Watching the interview videos (optionally)
• Completing the revision questions (quizzes)
• Completing the assignments (there will be two: first one by the end of week 3, second one by the end of week 6)
• Sharing your experiences and insights
• Downloading the materials for practical use

You can participate for free. If you wish to upgrade to the verified track, it costs around €102.

• Revision questions: After watching the lecture videos in the respective weeks, you will be asked to answer a series of revision questions.
• Two-step assignment: Participants who wish to receive a certificate for this edX course must complete an assignment. The assignment consists of short reflection essays which will be undertaken on a step-by-step basis. You will be asked to select a work environment with which you are already familiar and where the work characteristics and conditions may be risky to the employees. After receiving the contents of weeks 3 and 6, you will be asked to apply the knowledge that you have acquired to your chosen work environment. Each of your assignment submissions will be evaluated through a peer assessment procedure by three other course participants while you will be asked to evaluate three other assignments as well.
• No extension of deadlines: Please be aware of the time commitment.

The final grade is based on the following:

• 60% revision questions
• 40% two-step assignment

To receive a certificate, participants are required to obtain at least 70% of the total points AND complete two peer reviews.

You will get your final results directly, after finishing all course content, recap questions, and weekly exercises.

The course will be taught by Prof. Dr. Jessica Lang and Prof. Dr. Ute Hülsheger.