MOOCs From the Viewpoint of the Learner: A Response to Perna et al. (2014). (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wiebe, Eric; Thompson, Isaac; Behrend, Tara
• Is Part Of: Educational researcher. Volume 44:Number 4(2015)
• Page Start: 252
• Page End: 254
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: higher education -- instructional technologies -- learning environments -- psychology -- research methodology; Education -- Periodicals; Education -- United States -- Periodicals; Education -- Research -- Periodicals; Education -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 370.72
• DOI: 10.3102/0013189X15584774
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-189X

Abstract

This response to Perna et al. provides an alternate approach to research on massive open online courses (MOOCs). We argue that a student-centered, theory-driven conceptualization and methodological approaches allow us to move beyond descriptive statistics and into a deeper understanding of MOOC learners. Examples using a teacher development MOOC are presented.