Learning experiences in MOOC

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Learning Experience in the MOOC
COPE14
FH Prof. DI Dr. Maja Pivec, Information Design
Maga. Erika Pernold, Innovative Learning Scenarios

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What is COPE14 about?
• Competences for Global Collaboration
• Interdisciplinary team of moderators and facilitators (who
provided most of the content)
• 6 week duration covered in a setting of connectivism
• Ongoing assistance during the MOOC
• Learners were encouraged to connect among each others

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Structure and Participants
• Week 1 - “Communication Across Borders”
• Week 2 – “Legal Cultures”
• Week 3 – “Doing Business in Emergent Markets”
• Week 4 – “Relationships & Networks in Business to Business
Marketing
• Week 5 – “International Communication and Negotiation”
• Week 6 – “Transfer into Individual Contexts”

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Structure and Participants
• 537 participants in total
• 330 Students from the FHJ
(11 different courses of study - MIG, MEM, GBP, SAM, JPR, IND,
BIO, SBL, IWI, ETM, BMI)
• 34 countries represented
• 2611 comments published on the COPE14 web site
• 83 badges were achieved

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Evaluation Methods
• 2 Questionnaires
• After one week – short questionnaire
• Focused on learners expectations
• At the end of the MOOC
• Details about motivation
• Activities in and around the MOOC
• Problems related to participation
• Reflections on learning (Week 6)

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Demographic Numbers – Q1
• 10 questions
• Demographic data
• Expectations from moderators and facilitators
• 56 filled the questionnaire out
• Overall satisfaction with the offered content and support.

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Demographic Numbers – Q2
• 254 started the questionnaire – 90 people completed it
• Average age = 27,20
• 45,1 % female
• 54,9 % male
• 37,8 persons had a bachelors degree
• 75,6 % were from Austria
• Russia (6,7%), Germany (2,2%) and South Korea, Slovenia, The
Island of Bliss, Spain and UK (each 1 person)

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Numbers on Learning
• 91,5 % learned something new
• 90,9 % learned new facts and concepts
• 84,7 % got new insights and perspectives
• 68,8 % learned something unexpected
• 77,8% found video most informative
• 72,6% found comments of other participants most interesting

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Reflections on Learning
Supporting questions
How did my participation in this MOOC influence my online
behaviour?
What were my favourite ways to learn?
What were my favourite ways to communicate with others?
How could I remain in contact with the other guys of the MOOC?
Advanced task to design a footprint of emergent learning
Method to evaluate and reflect on learning processes
16 participants created a digital footprint

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22.09.2014 Hier steht der Name des Autors 10

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Reflections on Learning
• Learning in the MOOC was adaptable to their individual needs
• Possible to allocate the time for learning according to their schedule
• Participation influenced their online habits an online media usage
(time they spend online, media they use and how they use them)
• Participation on-line was perceived as time consuming
• Wealth of information was bordering on overload
• Input and hints provided by facilitators and moderators were very
helpful

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Reflections on Learning
„... Now I feel more confident posting my thoughts and experiences
through the web....“ (-Thomas)
„...I tried to keep my comments short and reduced to the most
important information, so that they stay interesting. ...“ (-Anna)
„…For me it is e-learning at a different level. It is very helpful and
inspiring to get so much input, to have competent moderators and
facilitators, to be able to learn where and when I want (or am able
to make time) ...“ (-Katharina)

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Reflections on Learning
• Enjoyed challenges of assignments
• Participation in discussions and watching videos
• Opportunity for practicing cross cultural communication
• Practicing English
• Difficult to see benefits of learning in MOOC
• Some would prefer smaller and closer group
• E-Learning course as alternative solution
• Would prefer f2f and traditional ways of learning

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Conclusions
• Good opportunity for learning
• Exploring learning preferences
• Experiencing new ways of on-line communication and
collaboration
• Voluntary participation
• Requires time for learning
• Requires pro-active learners

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Conclusions
• Necessary competences that contribute to the positive learning
experience in the MOOC
• Curiosity & open mindedness
• Explorative and experimental spirit
• Some amount of digital literacy
• Self discipline & being able to allocate enough time for
participation
• Wanting to communicate internationally and exchanging opinion

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Thank You
FH Prof. Dr. Tanja Jadin
Study Programme Communication, Knowledge and Media at the University of
Applied Sciences Upper Austria
FH JOANNEUM internal projects
OAO.13.004-01 “MOOC”
PEF.13.619-23 "FHJ MOOC Begleitung Evaluierung"
maja.pivec@fh-joanneum.at
erika.pernold@fh-joanneum.at