Constructing personal learning environments in MOOCs: A level of use study

Wendy Drexler et al, University of Florida

Overview

Research questions

  • how PLEs are used
  • how effective is the use
  • factors affecting its use/nonuse
  • outcomes experienced by use/nonuse of personal learning environments

Methodology

  • Pre/post survey (very low return frequency)

Future questions

  • Differences between credit and noncredit students with regard to
    • motivation
    • self-regulation
    • etc
  • Consider
    • how can we move beyond tech savvy audiences for open courses and PLEs?
    • how can facilitators better connect and support students in MOOCs? should they try?
  • Self-organization of students
    • students did self-organize, including offline
      • creating CoP at a school
    • but teacher did not know this until the end, thus was unable to support them
      • going from “teacher-presence” to “student-presence” - teacher is very visible to students, but teacher doesn't know what students are up to