MOOCS - A Learner perspective

1. MOOCS - A Learner perspective Lou McGill Independent Consultant www.loumcgill.co.uk

2. ds106 • Digital storytelling • University of Mary Washington, US • Open students joining existing course • Adopted by other institutions • 4life • Ds106.us

3. change11 • 9 months – new Researcher each week • Facilitated Professor Allison Littlejohn’s week • Attended as participant • Involved in Glasgow Caledonian University study – Self Regulated Learners and moocs

4. Motivations • likely to be highly variable - experience a mooc rather than focus on content • experiment with learning approaches • access to high profile academics - conversations with leading thinkers in their field • study with high profile institutions • study alongside peers from around the world • new flexible and diverse learning

5. Learner approaches • can be difficult to let go of previous learning practices • try out much freer ways of learning • control in the hands of the learners focus on content, or on social networking aspects or both - • Siemens steps to participating - define goals, declare/define yourself, plan interaction, build network, manage information, create/share, fix problems, manage expectations, persistence

6. Support • course leader/facilitators may provide some technical support, some structure or framework, some assessment activities or mechanisms - or they may not • learners may need to create/join smaller sub-communities for support - less intimidating - might be by sector, country, perceived level of experience and knowledge

7. Challenges • language differences • isolation • cultural differences • Responsibility - choice and control is a significant aspect. • inequalities - of value to people who already have high levels of capacity • technical and operational

8. Opening existing courses Models Coventry Open Media Courses and DS106 Benefits for learners Authentic learning experiences Broadening perspectives & enriched thinking Sharing and openness of learner content Peer assessment New networks – future peers/employers Open portfolios

9. Glasgow Caledonian University studies into moocs and self regulated learners A study of participants in the Change11 mooc looking at self-regulated learning practices. We are particularly interested in how mooc learners plan implement and reflect upon their learning goals, and how they draw upon other available resources, tools and other learners to support their learning. Allison Littlejohn, Anoush Margaryan, Colin Milligan and Lou McGill at the Caledonian Academy in Glasgow. Learning in MOOCs is a project undertaken by the Caldonian Academy as part of a PhD study looking at: • learning behaviours in a MOOC • learning indicators: traces we can find in a MOOC environment of the outcomes of the learning behaviours observed. The purpose of this study is to research how people participate in MOOC (i.e. behavioural, interaction and engagement patterns). By observing learning behaviours we aim to develop an understanding of how learning occurs through networks .contact Eleni.boursinou@gcu.ac.uk