ERIC Number: EJ1415831
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1369-9997
EISSN: EISSN-2304-070X
Exploring MOOC Learners' Behavioural Patterns Considering Age, Gender and Number of Course Enrolments: Insights for Improving Educational Opportunities
Open Praxis, v16 n1 p70-81 2024
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) now offer a variety of options for everyone to obtain a high-quality education. The purpose of this study is to better understand the behaviours of MOOC learners and provide some insights for taking actions that benefit larger learner groups. Accordingly, 2,288,559 learners' behaviours on 174 MITx courses were analysed. The results show that MOOCs are more attractive to the elderly, male, and highly educated groups of learners. Learners' performance improves as they register for more courses and improve their skills and experiences on MOOCs. The findings suggest that, in the long run, learners' adaptation to MOOCs will significantly improve the potential benefits of the MOOCs. Hence, MOOCs should continue by better understanding their learners and providing alternative instructional designs by considering different learner groups. MOOC providers' decision-makers may take these findings into account when making operational decisions.
Descriptors: MOOCs, Behavior Patterns, Gender Differences, Age Differences, Educational Opportunities, Academic Achievement, Course Selection (Students), Student Characteristics, College Students
International Council for Open and Distance Education. Lilleakerveien 23, 0283 Oslo, Norway. Tel: +47-22-06-26-30; Fax: +47-22-06-26-31; e-mail: icde@icde.org; Web site: https://openpraxis.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Massachusetts (Cambridge)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A