Uncovering challenges in provision of feedback and support to learners in MOOCs

Thematic Workshop

Have you ever been enrolled in a MOOC and manage to complete it without experiencing any problem? Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have facilitated a transformation in online learning by offering learning experiences without geographical and cost restrictions. Nevertheless, a considerable number of MOOC learners face difficulties during the courses that result in unsatisfaction, disengagement and course abandonment. In traditional learning settings (e.g. physical classrooms), where teachers can easily monitor the student learning progress, they can identify the ones who struggle and act accordingly on time. Yet in MOOCs, the learners’ worldwide population combined with the instructors’ high workload make unmanageable the timely awareness and assistance of every learner facing problems.

This workshop aims to:

1. Familiarize participants with the current identification of learners facing difficulties, feedback and support techniques regularly applied in MOOC contexts;
2. Highlight the importance of addressing potential student problems together with the learning design of the course, and
3. Reflect on specific problems experienced by both learners and practitioners in MOOC contexts.

The workshop is open to everyone but is of special interest to those who as students like to learn through MOOCs and as researchers having interest in online learning, feedback and student support. Participants will be asked to work through an interactive and collaborative way.