Massive Open Online Courses Research Research Articles

Understanding Participant’s Behaviour in Massively Open Online Courses

As the offer of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) continues to grow around the world, a great deal of MOOC research has focused on their low success rates and used indicators that might be more appropriate for traditional degree-seeking students than for MOOC learners, who, because of the openness of MOOCs, represent a more diverse clientele who exhibit different characteristics and behaviours. In this study, conducted in a French MOOC that is part of the EDUlib initiative, we systematically classified MOOC user profiles based on their behaviour in the open-source learning management system (LMS) — in this case, Sakai — and studied their survival in the MOOC. After formatting the logs in ordinal variables in order to reflect a continuum of participation central to the behavioural engagement concept (Fredricks, Blumenfeld, & Paris, 2004), we incrementally executed a two-step cluster analysis procedure that led us to identify five different user profiles, after having manually excluded Ghots : Browser, Self-Assessor, Serious Reader, Active-Independent, and Active-Social. These five profiles differed both qualitatively and quantitatively on the continuum of engagement, and a significant proportion of the less active profiles did not drop out of the MOOC. Our results confirm the importance of social behaviours, as in recent typologies, but also point out a new Self-Assessor category. The implications of these profiles for MOOC design are discussed.

A Systematic Mapping Study of the Empirical MOOC Literature

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have revolutionized todays education by offering a global accessible form of online learning. Over the years, MOOCs have been an attractive research area and have yielded an ample amount of research publications. However, the existing review studies in MOOCs are characterized by short year coverage or focusing on a specific theme. As such, a systematic mapping methodology was adopted to provide a fine-grain overview of MOOC research domain by identifying the quantity, types of research, available results and publication trends in educational aspects of MOOCs from 2009 to 2018. Key findings show that I) MOOC research have been on the rise since MOOCs became mainstream in 2011. II) MOOC research largely resides in the United States and few European countries. II) Most of MOOC studies focused on addressing learners’ completion/dropout/retention. In addition, we proposed some recommendations for future research on MOOCs.

Progress and new directions for teaching and learning in MOOCs

This paper presents a narrative review of the literature related to the landscape of learning and teaching in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Past reviews of the MOOC literature have primarily focused on identifying trends and categorising MOOC studies. Syntheses of recent empirical contributions on learning and teaching in MOOCs are scarce. This review evaluated 102 academic studies published between 2014 and 2016 on the learning and teaching aspects of MOOCs. These studies were analysed using Biggs’ 3P Model of Teaching and Learning as an organising framework. The analysis examines four key learning and teaching factors: learner factors, teaching context, learner engagement, and learning outcomes. Five important findings emerged from this analysis: (1) evidence-based research on non-mainstream consumers of MOOCs is scarce; (2) the role of learner factors is oversimplified in evidence-based MOOC research; (3) there is no attempt to reconcile different approaches to measuring learner engagement with MOOCs; (4) measures of learning outcomes lack sophistication and are often based on single variables; and (5) the relationships between many of the key learning and teaching factors have not been clarified. It is argued that continuing to study learning and teaching factors in isolation without considering how they interact with each other does not move the research field forward.

MOOCs in the workplace: an intervention for strategic human resource development

ABSTRACT The purpose of this conceptual research is to explore the potential of using massive open online courses (MOOCs) as a strategic tool for employee learning and development in corporate settings by reviewing the literature and practices from a strategic human resource development (HRD) perspective. Human capital theory and strategic HRD were selected as the theoretical framework to make a connection between MOOCs and HRD. The general features of MOOCs, MOOC research in the workplace, and relationships among MOOCs, human capital, and strategic HRD are summarized. This study also introduces three examples of Indian and global organizations that use MOOCs as an intervention for strategic HRD. For each example, we describe the context, process/progress, and outcomes. Discussion, implications, and recommendations for future research are elaborated.

Examining student characteristics, goals, and engagement in Massive Open Online Courses

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have emerged with much popularity in the last five years, yet many questions remain about whom MOOCs best serve and what constitutes learner success. Completion rates, a common metric of student success, remain low, averaging less than 8%, and may be a misleading measure of success unless learner intentions are considered. This research addresses the relationships among learner characteristics and goals for enrolling in MOOCs, and the impacts on student persistence and completion in varying disciplines. We examined learner self-reported goals for taking a MOOC, characteristics, and rate of completion of 15,655 participants in eight MOOC courses. Results revealed that while age was positively associated with MOOC participation, motivation differed across course disciplines. The relationship between learner goals and engagement differed between those enrolled in Humanities/Liberal Arts (HLA) and STEM courses. Most notably, while taking the course due to personal interest or usefulness to a participant's career held a positive relationship with engagement in HLA courses, the endorsement of these same goals was predictive of less engagement in STEM courses. Our findings indicate that learner goals impact engagement and success, and that there are differences in engagement and goals between course disciplines. Suggestions for future MOOC research and potential course improvement to better align with learner goals are also provided.

Mapping the Factors Influencing Success of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) in Higher Education

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) is a new phenomenon in online learning that has aroused increasing interest by researchers as a significant contribution to improving educational system quality and openness. The purpose of this paper is to compile and analyze MOOC research that has been published between 2012 and 2016. A systematic analysis technique was employed and Template Analysis (TA) approach was used for mapping MOOC research into three dimensions in accordance with the Biggs 3P model. First dimension is Presage, include the following factors: Learners' characteristics with sub-factors (learner demographics, learner motivation, and interactivity) and instructor. Second, Process, including factors of pedagogy, pattern of engagement, instructional design, assessment, credit, plagiarism, sustainability, and learning analytics. Third dimension is Product, including factors of student dropout rate and MOOC quality. This classification is aimed at providing a comprehensive overview for readers interested in MOOCs who seek to understand the critical success factors influencing MOOC success.

Student success prediction in MOOCs

Predictive models of student success in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are a critical component of effective content personalization and adaptive interventions. In this article we review the state of the art in predictive models of student success in MOOCs and present a categorization of MOOC research according to the predictors (features), prediction (outcomes), and underlying theoretical model. We critically survey work across each category, providing data on the raw data source, feature engineering, statistical model, evaluation method, prediction architecture, and other aspects of these experiments. Such a review is particularly useful given the rapid expansion of predictive modeling research in MOOCs since the emergence of major MOOC platforms in 2012. This survey reveals several key methodological gaps, which include extensive filtering of experimental subpopulations, ineffective student model evaluation, and the use of experimental data which would be unavailable for real-world student success prediction and intervention, which is the ultimate goal of such models. Finally, we highlight opportunities for future research, which include temporal modeling, research bridging predictive and explanatory student models, work which contributes to learning theory, and evaluating long-term learner success in MOOCs.

Videos as learning objects in MOOCs: A study of specialist and non‐specialist participants' video activity in MOOCs

AbstractDespite the emergence of massive open online courses (MOOCs) and the field of MOOC research, we have a limited understanding of the specific needs of different learner groups and how MOOCs can successfully address those needs. Video lectures and demonstrations are a central learning component of MOOCs. This paper contributes to the research community by examining the use of MOOC videos for two groups of learners. In particular, we explore whether there is an observable difference between specialists' and non‐specialists' video‐watching activity. We analyse data collected from three MOOCs on the edX platform. Our findings indicate that while age and educational background impacts the level of video activity, there is no significant difference between specialists and non‐specialists. We conclude that the MOOC format may be suited to non‐specialist groups, allowing them to self‐direct their learning and utilise videos as educational resources.

Perceptions of authority in a massive open online course: An intercultural study

Spurred on by rapid advances of technology, massive open online courses (MOOCs) have proliferated over the past decade. They pride themselves on making (higher) education available to more people at reduced (or no) cost compared to traditional university schemes and on being inclusive in terms of admitting vast numbers of students from all over the world. However, MOOCs tend to be tacitly based on the course designers’ lifeworlds, which results in the sidelining of participants whose lifeworlds are different. The authors of this article highlight culture as an important but often overlooked aspect in the research on, and the design and running of MOOCs. They begin with a review of the role of culture in MOOCs research and find that it has been somewhat ignored. Next, they present a methodological framework – the culture contrast method – with which to approach the decisive role culture plays in MOOCs. Third, coming from differing cultural backgrounds, they apply the culture contrast method in a case study, contrasting experiences, interpretations and perceptions of a particular MOOC. Their varying perceptions of how, when and why they experienced a presence of authority emerge as a consistent theme in their data. Through the analysis of their data, they distinguish between the MOOC as an assemblage, consisting of the online interface, the design and hardware they inhabit as course participants, and their respective lifeworlds as their local and situated different cultures. They argue that during the run of the course, lifeworld and assemblage collide and enact a cultural authority. This authority sets the benchmark for what is deemed proper practice within a particular MOOC and it gives preferential treatment to some participants rather than others, thus actually undermining the professed inclusiveness of the MOOC format.

Trends and Patterns in Massive Open Online Courses: Review and Content Analysis of Research on MOOCs (2008-2015)

<p class="3">To fully understand the phenomenon of massive open online courses (MOOCs), it is important to identify and map trends and patterns in research on MOOCs. This study does so by reviewing 362 empirical articles published in peer-reviewed journals from 2008 to 2015. For the purpose of this study, content analysis and discourse analysis were employed to analyze the articles. Accordingly, the trend line showing the number of articles per year indicates that the extent of research on MOOCs is likely to increase in the coming years. In terms of research areas, the findings reveal an imbalance and three research areas out of fifteen constitute more than half of all research on MOOCs. With regard to types of MOOCs, related literature is dominated by research on xMOOCs. The discourse in MOOC articles takes a mostly neutral standpoint, articles with a positive outlook outweigh those that are negative, and there is an increase in a more critical discourse. Theoretical or conceptual studies are preferred by researchers, although MOOC research generally does not benefit from being viewed through theoretical or conceptual lenses.</p>

Developing a Strategic Approach to MOOCs

During the last eight years, interest in massive open online courses (MOOCs) has grown fast and continuously worldwide. Universities that had never engaged with open or online learning have begun to run courses in these new environments. Millions of learners have joined these courses, many of them new to learning at this level. Amid all this learning and teaching activity, researchers have been busy investigating different aspects of this new phenomenon. In this contribution we look at one substantial body of work, publications on MOOCs that were produced at the 29 UK universities connected to the FutureLearn MOOC platform. Bringing these papers together, and considering them as a body of related work, reveals a set of nine priority areas for MOOC research and development. We suggest that these priority areas could be used to develop a strategic approach to learning at scale. We also show how the papers in this special issue align with these priority areas, forming a basis for future work.

Who studies MOOCs? Interdisciplinarity in MOOC research and its changes over time

<p>The complexity of digital and online education is becoming increasingly evident in the context of research into networked learning/participation. Interdisciplinary research is often proposed as a way to address complex scientific problems and enable researchers to bring novel perspectives into a field other than their own. The degree to which research on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) is interdisciplinary is unknown. We apply descriptive and inferential statistics to bibliometric data to investigate interdisciplinarity in MOOC research. Results show that MOOC research published in 2013-2015 was (a) mostly conducted by researchers affiliated with Education and Computer Science disciplines, (b) far from monolithic, (c) had a greater representation of authors from Computer Science than in the past, and (d) showed a trend toward being more interdisciplinary than MOOC research published in 2008-2012. Our results also suggest that empirical research on xMOOCs may be more interdisciplinary than research on cMOOCs. Greater interdisciplinarity in xMOOC research could reflect the burgeoning interest in the field, the general familiarity with the xMOOC pedagogical model, and the hype experienced by xMOOCs. Greater interdisciplinarity in the field may also provide researchers with rich opportunities to improve our understanding and practice of digital and online learning.</p>

Methodological approaches in MOOC research: Retracing the myth of Proteus

AbstractThis paper explores the methodological approaches most commonly adopted in the scholarly literature on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), published during the period January 2008–May 2014. In order to identify trends, gaps and criticalities related to the methodological approaches of this emerging field of research, we analysed 60 papers selected across four relevant scientific databases plus one journal in the sector of e‐learning that published a special issue on this topic. The emerging picture is that of a research field in its infancy, heavily relying on theoretical research and case studies, which is just beginning to identify suitable methods to deal with large cohorts of learners, very large amounts of data and new ways of learning. The state‐of‐the‐art is also quite fragmentary, due to the different epistemological and ontological conceptions of the authors of the papers about the nature of the issues faced and the way they should be studied. In this paper, we compare the problems related to the definition of the methodological approaches in this research field with the Greek myth of Proteus, the elusive, multiform divinity whose wisdom would only be revealed to those capable of catching him. We therefore advocate the need for catching Proteus, that is, better identifying and choosing the methodological approaches for MOOC research as a condition for its development.

What public media reveals about MOOCs: A systematic analysis of news reports

AbstractOne of the striking differences between massive open online courses (MOOCs) and previous innovations in the education technology field is the unprecedented interest and involvement of the general public. As MOOCs address pressing problems in higher education and the broader educational practice, awareness of the general public debate around MOOCs is essential. Understanding the public discourse around MOOCs can provide insights into important social and public problems, thus enabling the MOOC research community to better focus their research endeavors. While there have been some reports looking at the state of the MOOC‐related research, the analysis of the public debate surrounding MOOCs is still largely missing.In this paper, we present the results of a study that looked at the content of the public discourse related to MOOCs. We identified the most important themes and topics in MOOC‐related mainstream news reports. Our results indicate that coverage of MOOCs in public media is rapidly decreasing: by the middle of 2014, it decreased by almost 50% from the highest activity during 2013. In addition, the focus of those discussions is also changing. While the majority of discussions during 2012 and 2013 were focused on MOOC providers, the announcements of their partnerships, and million dollar investments, the current focus of MOOC discourse seems to be moving toward more productive topics focused on the overall position of MOOCs in the global educational landscape. Among different topics that this study discovered, government‐related issues and the use of data and analytics are some of the topics that seem to be growing in popularity during the first half of 2014.

Exploration of educational empirical research based on big data from MOOCs platforms

We reviewed numerous course reports and research papers generated through massive open online courses (MOOCs) and generally found two phases of MOOCs research, with a turning point in 2012, the so-called year of the MOOCs. Among these sources, research analyzing educational big data of MOOCs can be sorted into three groups: (1) Learning pattern and learner categories; (2) learners completing or dropping out of courses; (3) specific learning behaviors and different functions of the MOOCs platform. However, we find limitations in the existing data. This insufficiency is partly derived from the lack of conventional educational and psychological theoretical frameworks in MOOCs research based on big data from online platforms. We point out that researchers could use MOOCs platforms as valid data resources to further verify and to extend conventional educational research theories and frameworks, such as learning theories, pedagogy and educational policy. We also analyze different data types that MOOCs platforms offer and their roles in educational data mining (EDM). MOOCs data include user logs, learning paths and performance results. It is important in future research to combine conventional theories with options presented by new data. This paper presumes there will be three types of research based on big data from MOOCs platforms. Such research will mainly be on: the MOOCs platform itself; MOOCs design and delivery; EDM and learning behavior analytics.

Massive Open Online Courses: Strategies and Research Areas

The latest education revolution, the massive open online courses (MOOCs), is gaining momentum, accolades, and participation across industry and academia. These learning laboratory behemoths host and assess tens to hundreds of thousands of students in a single class, for free. Similar to their scope, MOOCs’ short- and long-term educational implications seem massive. Immediate MOOC educational outcomes vary widely from roaring successes to global jokes. To date however, few or no studies address MOOCs in hospitality and tourism. This article takes a small step toward addressing this gap, drawing on the Diffusion of Innovations theory to review educational technologies, open education, and MOOCs. The result is an overview and four complementary MOOC diffusion strategies and research areas.

A Survey On MOOC Providers For Higher Education

Online learning has evolved over the years, becoming increasingly accessible and gaining credibility as a learning medium. Universities are reshaping education on the Web by means of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC). The learners can access educational content anytime, from anyplace and participatory culture using social networks seems to be the biggest advantage that MOOC has brought to the world of education especially in the higher education arena. MOOC has rapidly developed from a small section of specialist courses to millions of registered users on major online platforms offering hundreds of courses. As MOOC expands, attrition and accreditation is a problem. Though MOOC is expanding very fast, the literature on MOOC research is limited. This paper presents a survey on MOOC providers which aims to capture the state of MOOC, how they evolved and to identify issues and challenges that are important for MOOC providers.