Open Online Courses Research Articles

Supporting social interactions to improve MOOC participants’ learning outcomes: a literature review

IntroductionThe need for more scalable, accessible and affordable education, coupled with technological advancements in information sharing technology and collaborative platforms has led to the growth of MOOCs (massive open online courses). The growth of MOOCs has resulted in learning becoming increasingly distributed, affordable and flexible compared to traditional classroom education, allowing individuals in disadvantaged groups to access high quality educational materials. However, new challenges emerge, most notably with MOOCs’ low completion rates. Among the reasons for a low completion rate, lack of interaction with peers is cited as a major reason, yet, interventions to promote social interaction has received relatively less attention. From a constructivist perspective, social interactions among peers are essential in helping individuals learn. This systematic literature review aimed to understand social interaction interventions in MOOC settings. This includes constructs measured as learning outcomes and how they were measured.MethodsLiterature articles were sourced from multiple databases and filtered for inclusion using the PRISMA process and its four phases. Twenty articles were included in the final review.ResultsResults of the review showed that social interactions fall into three categories: discussion forums, learning groups and one-to-one interactions with peers. Learning outcomes investigated were grouped into four categories: knowledge, social engagement, learning engagement and learner experience.ConclusionAcross the studies, there were clear positive effects of social interaction on learning outcomes. Intervention strategies include sending prompts for individuals to use discussion boards and also grouping learners by homogeneity based on their learning engagement. However, more experimental studies are necessary to bolster the evidence of a causal impact of social interactions. Also, further research should be done to understand potential mediating factors that contribute to the success of implementing social interactive elements in MOOCs.

Improving undergraduate education of occupational health and occupational medicine appling massive open online courses & problem-based learning

BackgroundThe learning of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine in undergraduate college students in China has been hindered by various factors. This study aimed to explore the effects of the application of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) & Problem-based learning (PBL) in the learning of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine in undergraduate college students in China.MethodsStudents enrolled in 2017 and 2018 were categorized in the control group and study group, and received PBL learning and MOOC + PBL learning, respectively. The effects of learning were assessed by scores of final exam, satisfaction degree of students, and feedbacks.ResultsThe mean score of the final exam was not significantly different between the two groups. However, the further comparison by levels of scores showed that the percentages of good and excellent were both significantly higher in the study group than control group. The overall satisfaction degree was significantly higher in the study group than control group. In addition, the scores of the 3 dimensions of satisfaction degree, i.e. learning preparation, learning process, and learning effect, were all significantly higher in the study group than control group. The feedbacks of the students showed that they thought MOOC + PBL learning could better improve the learning efficacy, despite a substantial proportion of students reported that MOOC + PBL learning more time-consuming.ConclusionsThe findings showed that the combination of MOOC and PBL in the learning of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine is an effective method capable of improving the learning efficacy in college students of Prophylactic Medicine. Further efforts are needed to optimize the MOOC platform to provide a friendlier interface.

Leveraging massive open online courses to foster reflective practice in blended university courses

ABSTRACT Opportunities and concerns regarding the use of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in higher education have evolved along with them. A concern is how their use could support the higher-order learning appropriate for higher education. Grounded in the conversational framework, this case study explored how reflective practice could be fostered in a MOOC-based blended learning course and how students perceived it. Through document and content analyses conducted on curricular documents and student self-reports, findings showed that the blended course design, the design of the MOOC itself, and the affordance of the FutureLearn platform encouraged reflection. The students perceived articles, videos, and discussions within the MOOC as highly stimulating for reflective activities and positive learning experiences. This study builds on previous research on how MOOCs, given their asynchronous, self-paced format, can be effective in fostering reflection among students.

The study on the influence factors of intention to continue using MOOCs: integrating UTAUT model and social presence

ABSTRACT Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are the product of “internet + education”, offering open educational resources to global students. This study analyzed the factors influencing students’ intention to continue using MOOCs based on their satisfaction. To achieve research objectives this study integrates the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and social presence. A total of 481 valid samples were used to verify the hypotheses proposed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and PROCESS. The results showed that the UTAUT model (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions) had significant positive effects on student satisfaction with MOOCs. That is, it had a positive impact on the intention to continue using MOOCs. More importantly, social presence had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between UTAUT scores and satisfaction with MOOCs. Social presence weakened the impact of the UTAUT on satisfaction. Based on the research findings, implications, and limitations of this study are discussed.

Integrating Business Analytics in Educational Decision-Making: A Multifaceted Approach to Enhance Learning Outcomes in EFL Contexts

This study introduces a framework that integrates business analytics into educational decision-making to improve learner engagement and performance in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), focusing on learning environments in English as a Foreign Language (EFL). By examining three specific research questions, this paper delineates patterns in learner engagement, evaluates factors that affect these patterns, and examines the relationship between these factors and educational outcomes. The study provides an empirical analysis that elucidates the connection between learner behaviors and learning outcomes by employing machine learning, process mining, and statistical methods such as hierarchical clustering, process discovery, and the Mann–Kendall test. The analysis determines that learning patterns, characterized as single-phase or multi-phase, repetitive or non-repetitive, and sequential or self-regulated, are more closely associated with the nature of the educational content—such as books, series, or reading levels—than learner characteristics. Furthermore, it has been observed that learners exhibiting self-regulated learning patterns tend to achieve superior academic outcomes. The findings advocate for integrating analytics in educational practices, offer strategic insights for educational enhancements, and propose a new perspective on the connection between learner behavior and educational success.

Developing and piloting an online course on osteoporosis using a multidisciplinary multi-institute approach- a cross-sectional qualitative study.

Postgraduate medical trainees (PGs) in developing nations face various educational hurdles due to limited access to quality resources and training facilities. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of e-learning, particularly Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), within postgraduate medical education. It involved the development of a customized online course focused on osteoporosis for PGs and an examination of their perspectives and preferences concerning online learning methods like Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) platforms. The study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2020. A multi-institutional, multidisciplinary team was assembled to design an osteoporosis course on the VLE platform. PGs (n = 9) from diverse disciplines and institutions were selected with informed consent. Focus group discussions (FGDs) among these PGs identified their preferences for the online course, which subsequently guided the development of the MOOC. The modular MOOC comprised recorded micro-lectures, flashcards, videos, case challenges, and expert interviews. The educational impact of the VLE was assessed using pre- and post-module tests among the participants, and their perceptions of the PGs and course facilitators were gathered via an online survey. The study identified the involvement of PGs in the course design process as beneficial, as it allowed for content customization and boosted their motivation for peer-to-peer learning. During the FGDs, PGs expressed a strong preference for flexible learning formats, particularly short downloadable presentations, and micro-lectures. They also identified challenges related to technology, institutional support, and internet connectivity. In the subsequently customized MOOC course, 66% of PGs (n = 6) attempted the pre-test, achieving a mean score of 43.8%. Following the VLE module, all PGs (n = 9) successfully passed the end-of-module test, averaging a score of 96%, highlighting its impact on learning. The majority (n = 8, 88.9%) agreed that the course content could be applied in clinical practice, and 66.7% (n = 6) expressed extreme satisfaction with the learning objectives and content. Participants favoured end-of-module assessments and the use of best-choice questions for evaluation. This study highlights the importance of virtual learning, particularly MOOCs, in addressing the educational challenges faced by developing nations. It emphasizes the need for tailored online courses that cater to the preferences and requirements of PGs. The findings suggest that MOOCs can foster collaboration, networking, and opportunities for professional development, and interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty members can be a key strength in course development. This research provides valuable insights for educators, institutions, and e-learning developers seeking to enhance their teaching methodologies and establish accessible educational environments in the digital age.

Macro-level engagement in computer engineering MOOC lectures: comparing a high-rated and a low-rated course

Although digital advances have enabled hundreds of universities to offer massive open online courses (MOOCs) to millions of students worldwide, the high dropout rate on these MOOCs indicates a disjunct between the potential of the offer and the success of its uptake. Many studies point to issues relating to interpersonal connection as a major factor in this disjunct. Interviews with students support the conclusion that lecturers’ interpersonal tone is crucial to shortening psychological distance in pre-recorded videos. However, it is unclear how the interpersonal tone preferred by students can be realised discursively. This paper captures discursive instances by modelling an engagement framework and identifying particularly useful strategies through comparison of a high-rated and a low-rated engineering MOOC course delivered on Coursera. Findings show that in the high rated course the lecturer consistently anticipated students’ state of mind and in response constructed a discourse that performed several interpersonal functions. On the other hand, in the low-rated course the lecturer mostly anticipated and addressed knowledge gaps and issues of difficulty, but not students’ emotional responses, and so deployed far fewer interpersonal strategies in the lecture discourse. These findings shed light on how lecturers can use interpersonal language in pre-recorded lectures to improve student engagement.

Investigating the effects of nudges to promote knowledge-sharing behaviours on MOOC forums: a mixed method design

ABSTRACT Knowledge-sharing in forums is an integral part of many MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). However, forum usage for knowledge-sharing in MOOCs is often inadequate. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach to investigate problems behind MOOC learners’ problematic forum participation and propose real-time sharing-quality-monitoring mechanisms to mitigate the problems. We explore different designs and implementation of computerised nudges to enhance knowledge contribution, considering challenges such as vast data, user aversion to AI monitoring, and complex user interactions. Through testing graphical (Model A), numerical (Model B), and textual message (Model C) interface designs, we found that graphical and numerical designs were most effective in improving performance. However, Model C received conflicting judgments, with some users feeling controlled by the AI while others found algorithmic guidance valuable. Our findings shed light on leveraging computerised nudges for meaningful contributions and address concerns related to AI monitoring. The complex nature of user interactions, behaviours, and the abundance of data present significant challenges that require innovative approaches. This study contributes to understanding the issues in MOOC forum participation and provides insights into effective computerised nudges. We discuss directions for refining the current design, emphasising the need for more design science research in this domain.

Need assessment of medical school curriculum for MOOCs: perspectives of instructors and students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

IntroductionDesigning, developing, and implementing a course without assessing and prioritizing instructional needs may result in inefficiency due to the disregard for the actual needs of the target population. The present study aimed to determine and prioritize medical students’ instructional needs regarding Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.MethodsThis survey study was carried out in three stages (2020–2021) using the Delphi technique. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to select the instructors. The students were selected through simple random sampling. The first round of the Delphi technique involved a questionnaire consisting of one open-ended question, completed by 49 basic/clinical faculty members and 47 senior medical students. In the second round, a 5-point Likert scale-based questionnaire was used to prioritize the instructional needs. The reliability of the questionnaire was verified by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. In the third round, a focus group was used. A total of six expert faculty members and one senior medical student were invited to the focus group session to prioritize the needs. Data were analyzed using Friedman’s non-parametric ranking test in SPSS version 26.ResultsTen instructional needs priorities were extracted, including common pharmacotherapies (antibiotics and narcotics), prescriptions, physiology, anatomy, physical examination, electrocardiography interpretation, radiography, computed tomography scans, serum electrolyte disorders, and cardiovascular and internal (endocrine and metabolic) diseases. The chi-squared calculated value (715.584) indicated a significant difference in the importance of the questionnaire’s questions (P < 0.001). These questions did not have equal value, and the importance, from the respondent’s point of view and the observed distribution of ranks, was not the output of a random factor.ConclusionsThe findings of this study can be used to design MOOCs, revise instructional programs, and adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of general practitioners, which will, in turn, help meet the medical needs of the general population.

Proposing information and communication Technology (ICT)-Based Learning transformation to create competitive human resources: A theoretical review

To address the challenges posed by the digital age and worldwide competitiveness, learning transformation that focuses on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been identified as a key solution for forming competitive human resources in the 21st century. This research employed literature analysis methods by referring to relevant recent research taken from various well-known scientific journal databases. Data analysis aimed to reveal trends and best practices in implementing innovative 21st-century learning models, utilizing ICT-based learning media, and preparing human resources to maximize the potential of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). This study produces strategic recommendations and guidelines for educational institutions to implement innovative 21st-century learning models, utilize ICT-based learning technology, and prepare human resources to implement MOOCs optimally. This endeavor aims to equip graduates with globally relevant skills. The transformation of ICT-based learning and the use of MOOCs is recognized as an essential step to develop human resources capable of global competition in the job markets. This research indicates positive impacts to respond current global challenges and nurturing the required competencies leading to a better employability for graduates students working in the digital era with global industries.

MOOC-based blended learning for knowledge translation capacity-building: A qualitative evaluative study.

This qualitative study investigated the effectiveness of blended learning using MOOCs (massive open online courses) for capacity-building in knowledge translation (KT). The evaluation followed Kirkpatrick's updated model. A total of 23 semi-directed interviews were conducted with participants working at a research centre in Côte d'Ivoire, with a first wave of interviews immediately post-training and a second wave after five months. Results showed that the training met learners' needs, with both the content and teaching format being deemed appropriate. Learners reacted positively to face-to-face activities and affirmed the importance of coaching for putting learning into practice. Specific KT skills and principles appeared to have been acquired, such as a procedure for structuring the KT process and improved skills for communicating and presenting scientific knowledge. Five months after the training, encouraging changes were reported, but the sustainability of the new KT practices remained uncertain. KT capacity-building initiatives in low- and middle-income countries struggle to meet demand. Little is known about effective KT training in that context, and even less in non-anglophone countries. The study presented here contributes to the understanding of success factors from the learners' standpoint.

Autorregúlate, a Methodology to support self-regulated learning in MOOC courses

Global education is facing major challenges, including the lack of strategies and methods to ensure that students are truly engaged in the learning process, self-regulating their learning, and promoting successful completion of the educational process. In this research, we introduce Autorregúlate, a methodology to support self-regulated learning in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), which from the design of the MOOC contributes to maintaining motivation and self-regulation throughout the course. Autorregúlate provides concrete and easy-to-implement guidelines for diverse teams in the creation of MOOCs, based on Zimmerman's self-regulation model. The methodology was validated in real MOOC courses using two evaluation instruments, the Questionnaire OSLQ and the Keller's Motivation Survey. Results show high levels of motivations (M=3,83; SD=0,7). On the other hand, results revel self-regulation strategies adoption by the participants, in particular, Goal setting (M=4,0; SD=0,7), Environmental structuring (M=4,1; SD=0,7), Task strategies (M=3,7; SD=0,7), Time management (M=3,84; SD=0,8), Seeking help (M=4,1; SD=0,8) and Self-evaluation (M=4,0; SD=0,7). Therefore, Autorregúlate support students on self-regulating their learning while achieving a sustained motivation.

Barriers to Applying Knowledge Gained Through an Implementation Research Massive Open Online Course: An Explanatory Qualitative Study.

This study explores the barriers encountered by participants in applying knowledge gained from a massive open online course (MOOC) on implementation research (IR), particularly among learners in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite the rising demand for quality IR training, access remains limited in LMICs. The IR MOOC, created by the Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, seeks to bridge this gap by providing free online IR training. Twenty-three interviews were conducted with participants from the French, Spanish, and English language sessions of the MOOC, and were analyzed using a general inductive approach. Barriers were identified at individual, organizational, community, and health authority levels. Individually, learners requested opportunities for deeper training and expert guidance. Organizational barriers included a lack of understanding and resistance to adopting IR methodologies. Community barriers involved limited roles and opportunities in IR and a lack of networking. Health authorities exhibited a lack of awareness and funding to support IR. Challenges in completing the course included language barriers, strict deadlines, limited internet connectivity, and a lack of localized case examples. This study highlights the importance of pairing online training with practical opportunities to apply newly learned skills. Our findings emphasize the need for expert guidance, improved language accessibility, and diverse case studies to support the development of a robust cadre of IR practitioners. Networking opportunities are crucial for connecting learners with IR practitioners and applying the knowledge acquired. Efforts to address these barriers could improve the effectiveness of IR training programs in LMICs.

An Emotion Recognition Method Based on Eye Movement and Audiovisual Features in MOOC Learning Environment

In recent years, more and more people have begun to use massive online open course (MOOC) platforms for distance learning. However, due to the space–time isolation between teachers and students, the negative emotional state of students in MOOC learning cannot be identified timely. Therefore, students cannot receive immediate feedback about their emotional states. In order to identify and classify learners’ emotions in video learning scenarios, we propose a multimodal emotion recognition method based on eye movement signals, audio signals, and video images. In this method, two novel features are proposed: feature of coordinate difference of eyemovement (FCDE) and pixel change rate sequence (PCRS). FCDE is extracted by combining eye movement coordinate trajectory and video optical flow trajectory, which can represent the learner’s attention degree. PCRS is extracted from the video image, which can represent the speed of image switching. A feature extraction network based on convolutional neural network (CNN) (FE-CNN) is designed to extract the deep features of the three modals. The extracted deep features are inputted into the emotion classification CNN (EC-CNN) to classify the emotions, including interest, happiness, confusion, and boredom. In single modal identification, the recognition accuracies corresponding to the three modals are 64.32%, 74.67%, and 71.88%. The three modals are fused by feature-level fusion, decision-level fusion, and model-level fusion methods, and the evaluation experiment results show that the method of decision-level fusion achieved the highest score of 81.90% of emotion recognition. Finally, the effectiveness of FCDE, FE-CNN, and EC-CNN modules is verified by ablation experiments.

Exploring the Factors Affecting Massive Open Online Course Learning in Higher Education

Massive open online course (MOOC) has been widely used as a supplementary education tool in higher education. However, MOOC efficacy was doubted for its low completion rate compared with traditional face-to-face courses. To explore the factors affecting MOOC learning in higher education, our study presents a constructivist grounded theory on the process of how college students learned MOOC. Sixteen participants from a college in China were interviewed. After analyzing the transcripts of interviews by open coding, axial coding, and selective coding, the findings indicate that college students studied MOOC because of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and enhanced motivation. MOOC learners encountered barriers of learning devices and learning locations. MOOC learning behaviors had characteristics of fragmented, unplanned, and low priority. MOOC has birth defects in learning motivation and learning environment which lead to poor learning behavior. A conceptual model was built to reflect the relationships among motivation defect, environment defect, behavior, and college. Implications are provided for college instructors and administrators to improve MOOC teaching and learning effectiveness.

Factors influencing students’ learning satisfaction and students’ learning outcomes in blended learning

In China, there is a thriving trend of utilizing a unique form of blended learning that combines MOOCs (massive open online courses) and SPOC (Small Private Online Course). However, the evaluation methods used for these blended learning courses have not been adequately developed. The objective and accurate evaluation of blended learning poses a challenge. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct a preliminary study to examine the relationships between various factors, such as the quality of the teaching environment, the quality of teachers' offline teaching, the quality of teachers' online teaching, and their impacts on students' learning satisfaction and learning outcomes in a blended learning setting. This study aims to analyze the factors in blended learning by employing structural equation modeling and interviews with 275 students. The findings of this research contribute to the advancement of student learning evaluation in blended learning by incorporating the evaluation of the teaching environment, the quality of teachers' online teaching, the quality of teachers' offline teaching, student satisfaction, and students' learning outcomes. Furthermore, this study offers a comprehensive analysis of the influence of the teaching environment on the aforementioned factors in blended learning, thereby providing a rationale and robust empirical evidence for the Chinese government's sustained investment in information technology infrastructure in higher education.

Mushroom Cultivation MOOC at Kerala Agricultural University: Garrett Ranking Analysis of Constraints to Enhance Online Agriculture Learning

Participants in this extensive Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on mushroom cultivation will gain a wealth of knowledge and useful skills necessary for cultivating a wide variety of mushrooms. In this study, the Center for e-learning at Kerala Agriculture University will analyse the barriers to mushroom growing as part of a MOOC. 30 participants in the MOOC course were chosen at random to participate in the study as responses. Using the specified sampling size and data collection methodology, an ex post facto research design was employed for the study. The requirements in the MOOC course were prioritized using the Garrett ranking technique after the data were statistically analysed. Results revealed that 55.06 per cent of the respondents have the economic constraint that is the power/ electricity usage costs more to them, of the technological challenges encountered, interacting with the resource person less frequently comes in the rank first with 60.13 per cent, the biggest personal challenge is developing skill-oriented knowledge, which is difficult and it has been ranked first with 67 per cent, Personal commitments, such as employment, family duties, health concerns etc., ranks first with 62.53 in terms of situational limitations and 66 percent of the respondents rranked first that there is more number of theory classes with minimum hands-on experience in psychological challenges

The use of WCAG and automatic tools by computer science students: a case study evaluating MOOC accessibility

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have been the de facto standard for Web accessibility evaluation for more than two decades and therefore have been introduced into legislation and university curriculum in Computer Science. At The National Distance Education University (UNED) in Spain, we have been teaching the guidelines for the last 15 years but learning how to apply WCAG criteria is complex. In this paper, we present the results of the analysis of students&amp;rsquo; performance in applying accessibility heuristic evaluation of an online resource (a Massive Open Online Course &amp;ndash; MOOC) using WCAG. The experiment was carried out over two academic years to evaluate how accurate and easy it is to understand and use WCAG criteria by trained students as well as their perceptions of usefulness to evaluate accessibility barriers using automatic tools in combination with manual evaluation. Results from the study show that errors identified are aligned with accessibility evaluation literature: 65% of success criteria in WCAG do not reach 80% of agreement among raters which confirms the complexity of WCAG conformance. In total 62 (86%) criteria are marked as not being correctly addressed by automatic tools with an overlap of those showing false positives, and 25 criteria (34%) are indicated as difficult to evaluate manually. While all areas where raters disagree are potential opportunities for WCAG improvement, this research reinforces that WCAG evaluations are complex and difficult even with current automatic tools, and that the possible solutions for the way forward are: (1) a well-defined evaluation protocol including a combination of automatic tools and manual evaluations; (2) better training and professional development opportunities.

Pedagogical and Technical Analyses of Massive Open Online Courses on Artificial Intelligence

MOOCs (massive open online courses) are popular distance courses for which anyone can sign up online with no limits on the number of participants. Moreover, artificial intelligence is a combination of algorithms for the development of human and rational capabilities by machines. This article presents a quantitative study with a sample of 734 MOOCs on artificial intelligence from three important platforms. Through exploratory and factor analyses, and with the support of a category system, it is concluded that, there are similarities in terms of access to content, ease of navigation, design, toolbars, consistency, visible hypertexts, browsing support and links, help in content searching, and course development with regard to the technical dimension. Regarding the pedagogical dimension, xMOOCs represent the most extensive international trend, and unidirectional resources predominate. In relation to the content dimension, MOOCs that include content on the emerging and current uses of artificial intelligence in learning and training are remarkable, including three main trends in MOOCs on artificial intelligence: machine learning and education, ethics of AI, and human learning and inclusivity.

Understanding the motivation to enrol in a massive open online course – a case study from South Africa

ABSTRACT Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have the potential to positively disrupt higher education in South Africa, but at present, only a few institutions in South Africa offer MOOCs. The aim of the study is to investigate why South African citizens would enrol in MOOCs to further their education. The purpose of the study is to understand the various factors that motivate citizens to make use of MOOCs for educational purposes. Data collection made use of an online questionnaire based on the Technology-User-Environment framework and recorded 3147 responses that were analysed with descriptive statistics. The responses from South African citizens indicated that lifelong learning, being in control of their learning journey and the flexibility of MOOCs were the biggest reasons why they would enrol in such as course. The recommendation then is that higher education institutions incorporate MOOCs in their educational offerings to remain competitive and attract potential students.