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Two reasons similar/in addition to the ones already mentioned: The obvious one: MOOCs usually involve small or no payment and are not typically part of a degre

by briandh 12y ago

Two reasons similar/in addition to the ones already mentioned: The obvious one: MOOCs usually involve small or no payment and are not typically part of a degree program. Everyone who has attended a traditional college has taken one or several classes where they disliked the material, the format, or the faculty but kept taking it anyway because it was a required course, they needed the credit hours to stay in good standing, or they had already paid nontrivial tuition and/or fees for it. For most MOOCs, if you are even mildly disappointed, you can just drop out with little remorse. The second, less obvious one: on Coursera, I bookmark courses (including ones I have only tenuous interest in) months ahead by enrolling in them. Then when the course starts, I judge whether I still have the time or interest (I usually don't), and if not, drop out. I don't know if this is common, but if it is, then it would have an impact. I'd also be curious to know how pacing impacts completion rates. Personally, while some platforms treat it as a selling point, I find it very difficult to complete self-paced courses. On the other hand, some people may miss one or two deadlines in a non-self-paced MOOC and simply give up.

HelloMcFly 12y ago
Another factor from my experience: I don't feel much incentive to "complete" a MOOC. I take a MOOC to learn something to a certain degree, and once I feel I've acquired the knowledge I was looking for I move on. Perhaps this is to my detriment long-term, but it seems like a more economical use of my time given so many competing interests.
akbar501 12y ago
I partially complete MOOC courses frequently as they may have a "chapter or two" of content I'm interested in. I watch what I need, then stop. IMO, there needs to be a better way to measuring value in an online course other than "did the user complete the entire course".
scobar 12y ago
I'm interested in more courses than I have time for. So, like others who've responded, I often prioritize sections of moocs. Sometimes I quickly go through lectures alone when I want to review something I'd learned but haven't used much recently. And sometimes I won't have time to even start a course during the designated date and deadlines, but I fully intend to take advantage of the content later. I think the incentives you mentioned are very relevant. College students don't want to waste the high tuition they've paid, nor do they want to lose their academic status they've worked for. But you left out another huge factor. In the current hiring system, too many employers value where a skill was learned more than the level of proficiency. I believe that, as more companies transition to audition-style interviews and make more accurate assessments of ability, the value placed on educational credentials will diminish. When this happens, there will be hope that educating oneself via moocs will provide a fair chance to be considered for skilled employment. When students believe that most companies genuinely value what you can do more than where you learned how to do it, I think there will be far more incentive to both enroll in and complete moocs.

by briandh 12y ago

HelloMcFly 12y ago

Another factor from my experience: I don't feel much incentive to "complete" a MOOC. I take a MOOC to learn something to a certain degree, and once I feel I've acquired the knowledge I was looking for I move on. Perhaps this is to my detriment long-term, but it seems like a more economical use of my time given so many competing interests.

akbar501 12y ago

I partially complete MOOC courses frequently as they may have a "chapter or two" of content I'm interested in. I watch what I need, then stop. IMO, there needs to be a better way to measuring value in an online course other than "did the user complete the entire course".

scobar 12y ago

I'm interested in more courses than I have time for. So, like others who've responded, I often prioritize sections of moocs. Sometimes I quickly go through lectures alone when I want to review something I'd learned but haven't used much recently. And sometimes I won't have time to even start a course during the designated date and deadlines, but I fully intend to take advantage of the content later. I think the incentives you mentioned are very relevant. College students don't want to waste the high tuition they've paid, nor do they want to lose their academic status they've worked for. But you left out another huge factor. In the current hiring system, too many employers value where a skill was learned more than the level of proficiency. I believe that, as more companies transition to audition-style interviews and make more accurate assessments of ability, the value placed on educational credentials will diminish. When this happens, there will be hope that educating oneself via moocs will provide a fair chance to be considered for skilled employment. When students believe that most companies genuinely value what you can do more than where you learned how to do it, I think there will be far more incentive to both enroll in and complete moocs.