MOOCs: Perception and Usage Patterns of UVa Students

Dr. Kristin Olson Palmer@kpatwork

Director of Online Learning Programs Office of the Provost, UVa

http://provost.virginia.edu/open-learning

Fired/Rehired President UVa partner with Coursera

MOOCs from 2012-2014Research Focus, Elite PublicUNESCO World Heritage SiteMe: Start-Ups and Education

What do UVa students think about MOOCs?

What do they do in MOOCs?

MethodOnline Survey

Clickstream DataSpring 2015

Online Survey

• April 2015

• n = 52

• 6 Likert scale questions

• 4 open-ended questions

Clickstream Data

• Video views and downloads

• Quiz behavior

• Discussion forums participation

Online Survey Findings

Three groups of students:

1. MOOC was required

2. MOOC was optional

3. MOOC was not related

Students in a MOOC that was required or optional indicated higher actual versus anticipated value of videos, quizzes and discussion forums.

Students cite ease of use and convenience as what they liked most. The time commitment is what they liked least.

Students want face-to-face classes with more class materials available online.

Clickstream Data Findings

Two groups of students:

1. Students who took the MOOC as required

for their class

2. Students where the MOOC was optional

For MOOCs that were required as part of residential course work, the data indicates that students completed whatever components were specifically required as part of the course grade.

A majority of the students watched some of the course videos though no one watched all.

For MOOCs that were optional, the data indicates students watch some lectures and take some quizzes although rarely download videos or post to discussion forums.

If students take the quizzes, chances are high that they will take the quizzes multiple times.

ConclusionsResidential UVa students:• Want to keep traditional

classrooms • Want more online resources• Will participate in online

materials that are required for their grade

Thank You!kristin@virginia.edu

434-249-6659Dr. Kristin Olson Palmer on LinkedIn