Developing A MOOC Initiative: Lessons Learned from the Universitat Politècnica de València Experience

Authors : İgnacio DESPUJOL, Linda CASTANEDA, Carlos TURRO

Pages : 215-233

Doi:10.17718/tojde.382805

View : 99 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2018-01-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Universitat Politecnica de Valencia insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(UPV); was the European institution with more MOOC course runs done by December 2016. This paper describes and analyses the decision-making process, and rationale of the development of this low budget real MOOC institutional initiative carried out by a traditional higher educational medium sized institution. This analysis is done using an Evaluative Research insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ER); method based on an iterative approach of 6 cycles of formative evaluation. It has been a multiple stage process that includes many aspects. In this paper, we will analyze two of them: the creation, organization and management of a fast and cheap MOOC production process, including the several tools, plans, and procedures that have enabled UPV to create courses fast and with a low-cost; and the technical evolution of the initiative, with the different platforms that have been used. As a consequence of this process, UPV has its own platform insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(upvx.es); based on openedX and is a member of edx.org, with 50 courses, 177 editions, and more than 632.000 enrollments. The completion rate is 8.69%, and post-course surveys reveal a high level of satisfaction from students. The paper will finish addressing the challenges of making this an entirely self-sustainable initiative and reflecting about what is required for evaluating this experience globally.
Keywords : MOOC, e learning, Open Universities, higher education initiatives

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