Important Features of MOOCs as Perceived by Learners

Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria
University of the Philippines Open University
Los Baños, Laguna, the Philippines

Massive open online courses or MOOCs offer a lot of promise in terms of providing inclusive and accessible opportunities for lifelong learning. As such, MOOCs have considerable potential to contribute to the realization of SDG#4, especially in the context of developing countries. However, this potential is often hindered by the observed low completion rates for most MOOCs offered by the various providers. It was in this context that a survey was conducted to investigate the features of MOOCs that are considered to be important by the learners. An online survey, consisting of 16 questions specifying the different features of a MOOC, was administered to those who enrolled in the MOOCs offered by the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU). The questions were answered using a five-point Likert Scale. To further evaluate these MOOCs, the respondents were also asked to rate their level of satisfaction with the features they deemed important. Also, three open-ended questions were included in the survey questionnaire asking the respondents about the possible reasons why they were unable to complete the MOOC they had enrolled in or, if they were able to complete the MOOC, what factors could be behind their ‘successful’ completion. The findings of the study can serve as a guide to other MOOC providers so that MOOCs can deliver the promised potential.