Digging deeper into learners' experiences in MOOCs: Participation in social networks outside of MOOCs, notetaking and contexts surrounding content consumption
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Issue Date
2015-05-25
Editor
Authors
Veletsianos, George
Collier, Amy
Schneider, Emily
License
Subject
MOOCs (Web-based instruction)
Online social networks
Online social networks
Abstract
Researchers describe with increasing confidence what they observe participants doing in
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). However, our understanding of learner activities in
open courses is limited by researchers’ extensive dependence on log file analyses and
clickstream data to make inferences about learner behaviors. Further, the field lacks an empirical
understanding of how people experience MOOCs and why they engage in particular activities in
in the ways that they do. In this paper, we report three findings derived by interviewing 13
individuals about their experiences in MOOCs. We report on learner interactions in social
networks outside of MOOC platforms, notetaking, and the contexts that surround content
consumption. The examination and analysis of these practices contributes to a greater
understanding of the MOOC phenomenon and to the limitations of clickstream-based research
methods. Based on these findings, we conclude by making pragmatic suggestions for
pedagogical and technological refinements to enhance open teaching and learning.