1. Charting open
territory:
Learners’ experiences
in MOOCs
A keynote presentation at ELESIG
March 11 2013
Allison Littlejohn
Director, Caledonian Academy
Chair of Learning Technology
www.gcu.ac.uk/academy
Collaborators:
Dr Colin Milligan, , Dr Anoush Margaryan, Dr Isobel falconer,
Lou McGill, Helen Beetham, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
2. Key challenge: continual learning
Grand challenge
“The most profound impact of the Internet…
is its ability to support and expand the
various aspects of social learning”.
“Attention has moved from access to
information towards access to other people”.
John Seeley Brown (2008), Minds on Fire
5. Scenario 4
Grand challenge
Online courses aiming at
large-scale participation &
open access.
Massive
Open
Online
Course
6. Scenario 4
Grand challenge
Online courses aiming at
large-scale participation &
open access.
May represent a pedagogical
approach ideally
suited to the network age.
Massive
.
Open
Online
Course
7. Scenario 4
Grand challenge
Online courses aiming at
large-scale participation &
open access.
May represent a pedagogical
approach ideally
suited to the network age.
Massive
Little known about how the
learning experience Open
afforded by MOOCs is Online
suited to diverse learners.
Course
8. Scenario 4
Grand challenge
xMOOC
• Learning goals defined by
instructor
• Learning pathways
structured by environment
• Limited interaction with other
learners Massive
Open
Online
Course
9. Scenario 4
Grand challenge
xMOOC
• Learning goals defined by
instructor
• Learning pathways
structured by environment
• Limited interaction with other
learners Massive
cMOOC Open
• Learning goals defined by Online
learner
• Learning pathways ill defined Course
• Interaction with others
depends on the learner
12. Scenario 4
Grand challenge
• Fini (2009) digital
literacies critical to learning
in a MOOC
• Mackness et al (2011)
tensions across
autonomy, diversity, opene
ss, connectedness
Massive
• Kop et al (2011) critical Open
literacies required to learn
in MOOCs
Online
Course
• Littlejohn et al (2009, 2011
& 2012) learners have to
self regulate their learning
13. Key challenge: continual learning
Grand challenge
GC: Every university graduate has the
ability, confidence and literacies to set
his/her own learning pathway to
achieve individual learning goals.
14. E-learning research and development tends to
Scenario 4
Focus on... Largely ignoring...
Trends within the education Wider societal trends and the
sector impact on education
Online versions of current Learners map out their own
learning design where teachers learning pathways
design learning pathways
Bounded, structured Open, unstructured environments
environments as the ‘norm’
Content as the central object of People learn together via objects
activity of activity
Stepanyan, K, Littlejohn, A & Margaryan, A (2012) Sustainable eLearning,
Journal of Educational Technology and Society
15. Key challenge: continual learning
Grand challenge
1. How do learners learn in open, unstructured,
networked environments?
1. What learning approaches do they use?
2. How can learners learn in open, unstructured,
networked environments
3. What /who structures learning?
16. Question 1
How do people learn in
open, unstructured, net
worked environments?
17. How do learners learn in unstructured env?
Context: Shell global knowledge sharing networks
Period: Sept 08-Apr 09
Method/instruments: Mixed method: Questionnaire
(Cross and Parker, 2004) & semi-structured
interviews (critical incident)
Sample: survey: n=462 (E46%; N27%; M27%);
interviews: n=29 (E41%, N31%, 28%M)
19. You Your
goal
Formal Libraries of Dynamic Knowledge
Collaborative
Learning Cases / Examples Knowledge, e.g. wikis Networks
Spaces
of Practice
Smart Your Shared resources Recommended
Information Knowledge (e.g. delicious) Resources
20. Anyone
People with
similar skills
Team Peers with
similar goals
Tutor External
You
contacts
You Your
goal
Formal Libraries of Dynamic Knowledge
Collaborative
Learning Cases / Examples Knowledge, e.g. wikis Networks
Spaces
of Practice
Smart Your Shared resources Recommended
Information Knowledge (e.g. delicious) Resources
21. GROUP Anyone
People with
similar skills
Team Peers with
similar goals
Tutor External
You
contacts
You Your
goal
Formal Libraries of Dynamic Knowledge
Collaborative
Learning Cases / Examples Knowledge, e.g. wikis Networks
Spaces
of Practice
Smart Your Shared resources Recommended
Information Knowledge (e.g. delicious) Resources
22. GROUP NETWORK Anyone
People with
similar skills
Team Peers with
similar goals
Tutor External
You
contacts
You Your
goal
Formal Libraries of Dynamic Knowledge
Collaborative
Learning Cases / Examples Knowledge, e.g. wikis Networks
Spaces
of Practice
Smart Your Shared resources Recommended
Information Knowledge (e.g. delicious) Resources
23. GROUP NETWORK Anyone
People with
similar skills
Team Peers with
similar goals
Tutor External
You
contacts
You Your
goal
Formal Libraries of Dynamic Knowledge
Collaborative
Learning Cases / Examples Knowledge, e.g. wikis Networks
Spaces
of Practice
Smart Your Shared resources Recommended
Information Knowledge (e.g. delicious) Resources
COLLECTIVE
24. Anyone
People with
similar skills
Team Peers with
similar goals
CONNECT
Tutor External
You
contacts
You CONSUME Your
goal
Formal Libraries of Dynamic Knowledge
Collaborative
Learning Cases / Examples Knowledge, e.g. wikis Networks
Spaces
of Practice
Smart Your Shared resources Recommended
Information Knowledge (e.g. delicious) Resources
25. Anyone
People with
similar skills
Team Peers with
similar goals
CONNECT
Tutor External
You
contacts
CREATE
You CONSUME Your
goal
Formal Libraries of Dynamic Knowledge, Knowledge
Collaborative
Learning Cases / Examples e.g. wikis Networks
Spaces
of Practice
Smart Your Shared resources Recommended
Information Knowledge (e.g. delicious) Resources
26. Anyone
People with
similar skills
Team Peers with
similar goals
CONNECT
Tutor External
You
contacts
CREATE
You CONSUME Your
goal
CONTRIBUTE
Formal Libraries of Dynamic Knowledge
Collaborative
Learning Cases / Examples Knowledge, e.g. wikis Networks
Spaces
of Practice
Smart Your Shared resources Recommended
Information Knowledge (e.g. delicious) Resources
27. Anyone
People with
similar skills
Team Peers with
similar goals
CONNECT
Tutor External
You
contacts
CREATE
You and CONSUME Your
Your Peers goals
CONTRIBUTE
Formal Libraries of Dynamic Knowledge
Collaborative
Learning Cases / Examples Knowledge, e.g. wikis Networks
Spaces
of Practice
Smart Your Shared resources Recommended
Information Knowledge (e.g. delicious) Resources
40. Scenario 4
What learning approaches are used?
Acquisition
Typically sequenced tasks with vidcast
lectures, computer marked tests.
Little or no interaction with the (hundreds
or thousands of) other learners
41. What learning approaches are used?
Participatory
Contribute Consume
COLLECTIVE
KNOWLEDGE
Create Connect
42. What learning approaches are used?
Participatory
•blended Contribute Consume
learning
• cMOOC
COLLECTIVE
KNOWLEDGE
Create Connect
44. Scenario 4
What learning approaches are used?
Participatory
Typically structure provided by instructor.
Learners provide peer support & create/
contribute content
45. What learning approaches are used?
Knowledge creation
Third type afforded
by networked Contribute Connect
technologies
COLLECTIVE
KNOWLEDGE
Create Consume
46. What learning approaches are used?
Knowledge creation
Third type afforded
by networked Contribute Connect
technologies
research COLLECTIVE
KNOWLEDGE
degrees
Create Consume
professional or
workplace learning
47. What learning approaches are used?
Charting occurs when
each learner maps
his/ her learning Contribute Connect
pathway through
planning,
implementing CHARTING
& reflecting on
learning goals
Create Consume
Builds individual &
collective knowledge
48. Pause for thought
Q Will MOOCs be a mainstream approach to
learning in universities?
No –
Not mainstream but there will be some
MOOCs–
Yes –
If yes or maybe, how will learners learn in
MOOCs?
50. Scenario 4
Can learners self regulate their learning?
Self Regulated Learning in MOOCs
Context: Change11 MOOC
Period: Jan 12-Apr 12
Method/instruments: Mixed method: SRL Questionnaire
& semi-structured interviews
Sample: survey: n=29 interviews: n=29
Study Hypothesis:
People who exhibit a high degree of Self-Regulation in their
learning will use qualitatively different strategies to plan,
monitor and reflect on their learning than individuals who
exhibit a low degree of Self-Regulation in their learning
www.gcu.ac.uk/academy/srl-mooc/
51. Scenario 4
Can learners self regulate their learning?
Zimmerman, B. J. (2005). Attaining self-regulation: a social cognitive perspective. In
Boekaerts, M., Zeidner, M., and Pintrich, P.R (eds) Handbook of self-regulation, pp13-39.
Academic Press, San Diego, CA.
52. Scenario 4
Can learners self regulate their learning?
Zimmerman, B. J. (2005). Attaining self-regulation: a social cognitive perspective. In
Boekaerts, M., Zeidner, M., and Pintrich, P.R (eds) Handbook of self-regulation, pp13-39.
Academic Press, San Diego, CA.
53. Scenario 4
Can learners self regulate their learning?
Zimmerman, B. J. (2005). Attaining self-regulation: a social cognitive perspective. In
Boekaerts, M., Zeidner, M., and Pintrich, P.R (eds) Handbook of self-regulation, pp13-39.
Academic Press, San Diego, CA.
54. Scenario 4
Can learners self regulate their learning?
Facebook, youTube, Blog
browser, bookmarking
Microblog (Twitter),
Word, Powerpoint,
personal network
Video software
Zimmerman, B. J. (2005). Attaining self-regulation: a social cognitive perspective. In
Boekaerts, M., Zeidner, M., and Pintrich, P.R (eds) Handbook of self-regulation, pp13-39.
Academic Press, San Diego, CA.
55. Scenario 4
Can learners self regulate their learning?
Facebook, youTube, Blog
browser, bookmarking
Microblog (Twitter),
Word, Powerpoint,
personal network
Video software
Zimmerman, B. J. (2005). Attaining self-regulation: a social cognitive perspective. In
Boekaerts, M., Zeidner, M., and Pintrich, P.R (eds) Handbook of self-regulation, pp13-39.
Academic Press, San Diego, CA.
56. Can learners self regulate their learning?
Active learners who set goals & structure their
learning
Passive learners who expect others to provide
structure
Lurkers….
58. Can learners self regulate their learning?
Active (12/29)
“Oh there’s some people who are everywhere you turn in the
Change 11 MOOC: there’s this group of people who are
inspirational, just phenomenal the way they just keep going
and they know their way around it.” (P08).
“You can read the comments of people who are participating
from different places and they give links to things that they are
doing or they think while you hear what is happening” (P20).
“I have no idea how scattered I am across this MOOC, I have
no idea how many contributions I’ve made, 30? 50? I’ve got a
lot of replies… I usually end a reply on an open end” (P05).
59. Can learners self regulate their learning?
Lurkers (13/29)
“I guess I tend to be a loner and I’ve done more lurking & I'm
quite happy lurking, I think it’s an honourable profession”(P21)
“Lurking is actually hugely beneficial [knowledge is filtered by
the course organisers and has] more value than something I
randomly come across on the Internet” (P18)
“I'm going out to the MOOC and lurking and getting lots of
great interesting ideas [to my] networks” (P01).
“I’m more or less like what do you call? A lurker and not very
active … I'm always invisible and the reason is that the way
I’ve been using the MOOC is to put into things that I'm
doing… to be a network mentor” (P17).
60. Can learners self regulate their learning?
Passive (4/29)
“Sure, I can read other people’s blogs and that’s not a
problem and I comment occasionally, but as far as really
putting my ideas out there in the open in my own blog to be
trampled on, you know there’s a bit of fear there I think that I
have and so that has been difficult for me” (P12).
”I'm not really sure how to find a group of people online who
really want to learn about what I most want to learn about.”
(P13).
61. Can learners self regulate their learning?
Factors affecting engagement
in a MOOC:
• Prior Experience
• Confidence
• Motivation
62. Scenario 4
Can learners self regulate their learning?
Our hypothesis:
People with high SRL score use different learning strategies
in MOOCs
• Those with high SRL scores tend towards being ACTIVE
• Those with low SRL scores tend towards being
PASSIVE
• Lurkers interspersed
Some correlation between degree of Self-Regulation and
learning BUT not statistically valid.
www.gcu.ac.uk/academy/srl-mooc/
63. Scenario 4
Can learners self regulate their learning?
Zimmerman, B. J. (2005). Attaining self-regulation: a social cognitive perspective. In
Boekaerts, M., Zeidner, M., and Pintrich, P.R (eds) Handbook of self-regulation, pp13-39.
Academic Press, San Diego, CA.
73. Key challenge: continual learning
Grand challenge
1. How do learners learn in open, unstructured,
networked environments?
1. What learning approaches do they use?
2. How can learners learn in open, unstructured,
networked environments
3. What /who structures learning?
74. Charting open
territory:
Learners’ experiences
in MOOCs
A keynote presentation at ELESIG
March 11 2013
Allison Littlejohn
Director, Caledonian Academy
Chair of Learning Technology
www.gcu.ac.uk/academy
Collaborators:
Dr Colin Milligan, , Dr Anoush Margaryan, Dr Isobel falconer,
Lou McGill, Helen Beetham, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK