A Quantitative Study on the Effects of Learning with Mobile Devices in MOOCs

Abstract

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platforms were initially designed for a desktop learning experience delivered via the Internet. With the increasing acceptance of mobile devices, learners started accessing the MOOC platforms through the browser application on their smartphones and tablets. However, native mobile applications offer better system integration and enhance the learning experience. As the concept of mobile-assisted seamless learning emphasizes the ubiquitous access to learning material, the relevance of mobile devices in the learning process will increase further. This paper investigates the different learning behaviors when using mobile devices on the HPI MOOC Platform. For this, influencing aspects, that cannot always be controlled by the learner, are examined for native applications and mobile websites-such as the size of the screen and the current network state of the mobile device. The results of a quantitative study show highly significant differences between the usage of native applications, mobile websites, and the overall average of the HPI MOOC Platform. It was proven that the size of the screen has a large practical effect when using native applications. Furthermore, course items and videos are more often consumed when the device is connected to a WiFi network This study creates the basis for future research to improve the support of mobile-assisted seamless learning methods for MOOCs.