Investigating Students' Interactions With Discussion Forums, Facebook, and Twitter in a Massive Open Online Course and Their Perceptions

• In Event: Group Cognition and Social Media

Abstract

Evidence-based research is needed to understand the role of MOOCs in changing the educational landscape, especially how students use the tools provided in MOOCs. This study investigated how students interacted with the discussion forum in a MOOC, and how they utilized Facebook and Twitter as an additional external space associated with this MOOC. The findings showed that MOOC participants found these tools to be useful and can help create an active, collaborative, and participatory learning environment where they could share ideas and connect with other participants. The finding also indicated a poor interface design and low quality of feedback or low response to feedback can impact students’ participation and perception of the usefulness of these tools.

Authors

• Min Liu, The University of Texas - Austin

• Jina Kang, The University of Texas - Austin

• Emily S McKelroy, The University of Texas - Austin

• Jason Harron, The University of Texas - Austin

• Sa Liu, The University of Texas