MOOC REPORT

GDIT 711

Emtinan Alqurashi
Elif Gokbel
Vanessa Steiner

April 2015

MOOC Findings
The three main issues found in the MOOC are:
1. Reading materials (either outdated, too long, or sometimes irrelevant).
2. Videos (either too long or too many).
3. Goal-oriented (There are no specific goals to achieve in each week).

Part 1: Reading materials

Concerns:
-

Out-dated materials
Length of readings
Relevance of readings

Part 1: Reading materials

Solution 1 : Suggest the learners find their own articles which are relevant to the
weekly topic and share them with the MOOC
Participant#10: The relevant reading materials can be provided in a separate place so people could
go and look at, it would be less overwhelming
Participant#8: Having each learner to find articles, it may be too many.
Participant#7: The level of participants previous knowledge might differ. Then, how can we trust their
judgment?

Part 1: Reading materials

Solution 2: Simply update

the reading materials to
articles which have been
written within the last five
years.

Part 1: Reading materials

Solution 3: Reducing the number of the reading

materials and providing a follow-up activity after reading
to help students analyze concepts for a deeper
understanding
Participant#2: I like the idea of reducing the number of materials
and providing a follow up activity. In my learning, it helps me better to
have a deeper understanding that when you do an activity, it helps you
reiterate what you have learned. So I did like that idea.

Part 1: Reading materials

Final Findings:

From the findings, we

should consider solution
#2 as best solution with a
small revision:
Updating the readings
(except theory-based,
seminal works,etc.)

Part 2: Videos
Issues:
-

Number of Videos

Rigid consistency of the videos

Part 2: Videos
Solution 1: In place of a video, have a hands-on activity
so the learner can be an active participant of the class.

Part 2: Videos
Solution 2: In place of some of the videos: have
the learners search for their own video.

Part 2: Videos
Solution 3: Make the videos optional while providing the
same information in another format such as word,
powerpoint, etc.

Part 2: Videos
Final Findings:
From the findings, we should consider
solution#3 as best solution:
Make the videos optional while providing
the same information in another format such
as word, powerpoint, etc.

Part 3: Goal-Oriented
Issues:
-

No specific goal to follow for certain activities

The MOOC is very specific in some activities but in other sections it has no
goals - inconsistent

Part 3: Goal-Oriented

Solution #1: For the activities,

include goals the learner should be
working towards or a small task they
can complete on their own.
Participants Reflections: The
majority of participants agreed with
this solution (seen by green check
marks) 7 out of 8 participants agreed
with this solution

Part 3: Goal-Oriented
Solution #2: Mix up the instructions and/or
tasks for different areas in the course allowing
students more freedom in certain parts while
more structured in others, varying the timing.
Participants Reflections: The feedback was
favored against this solution, participants
stating that they preferred the consistency of
the course.

Part 3: Goal-Oriented

Solution #3: Insert a checklist along

with the Activities, readings, and/or
videos to keep the learner on task
and help highlight the main points.
Participants Reflections: 7 out of 8
participants agreed with this solution

Part 3: Goal-Oriented
Final Findings:
From the findings, we
should consider using
SOLUTION #1
to solve our issues in
our MOOC

Thank you!