Overview
With an increased interest in online education and the emergence of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), how are online students experiencing these educational environments? To address this question, the RP Group conducted two research studies about (1) who participates, persists, completes, and succeeds in the online setting and (2) what makes these online approaches work for students and faculty.
In the first study, the RP Group worked with San Jose State University (SJSU) to assess the impact of SJSU Plus on student outcomes. Through SJSU Plus, a set of three Augmented Online Learning Environment (AOLE) courses — one remedial and two introductory courses — are delivered online through the MOOC provider, Udacity. Most SJSU students take these classes to meet graduation requirements.
The RP Group also conducted research on how MOOCs can most effectively support developmental education. The subject of this study is a one-unit five-week remedial writing course offered by Mt. San Jacinto through the Coursera platform. Working in partnership with the California State University President’s Office, the study aimed to identify early predictors of persistence and success for different student populations.
RP Group Lead
Eva Schiorring, Project Director
Team
Rob Firmin, John Whitmer, Terrence Willett, MS
Funders
National Science Foundation
Partners
San José State University
News and Events
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