[publication] Interaction Possibilities in MOOCs – How Do They Actually Happen?

Toegehter with Hanan Khalil we did a first research work about Massive Open Online Courses (shortly MOOCs). The publication titled „Interaction Possibilities in MOOCs – How Do They Actually Happen?“ and was accepted for presentation at the 3rd International Conference on Higher Education Development „Future Visions for Higher Education Development“ in Mansoura, Egypt. The slides of Hanan’s talk are already here online.
Abstract:

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are booming. They possibility to study whatever, wherever, and whenever for free is convincing to millions of online learners. A main criterion for the success of learning is interaction and communication as for MOOCs too. But there is little research work to be found according to the ways of MOOC interaction, its usage, and importance so far. This study deals exactly with these topics. The results of this study show that there is a lot of distinct “student to student” interaction using social networks and other Web 2.0 possibilities but very little “student to instructor” interaction. It is a task of the future to strengthen such interaction in order to optimize the learning outcome and community.

Reference: Khalil, H., Ebner, M. (2013) Interaction Possibilities in MOOCs – How Do They Actually Happen?, International Conference on Higher Education Development, p. 1-24, Mansoura University, Egypt