article

The role of students' motivation and participation in predicting performance in a MOOC

Authors:

M.D. AinleyAuthors Info & Claims

Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Volume 32, Issue 3

Pages 218 - 231

https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12130

Published: 01 June 2016 Publication History

Abstract

Over the last 5years, massive open online courses MOOCs have increasingly provided learning opportunities across the world in a variety of domains. As with many emerging educational technologies, why and how people come to MOOCs needs to be better understood and importantly what factors contribute to learners' MOOC performance. It is known that online learning environments require greater levels of self-regulation, and that high levels of motivation are crucial to activate these skills. However, motivation is a complex construct and research on how it functions in MOOCs is still in its early stages. Research presented in this article investigated how motivation and participation influence students' performance in a MOOC, more specifically those students who persist to the end of the MOOC. Findings indicated that the strongest predictor of performance was participation, followed by motivation. Motivation influenced and was influenced by students' participation during the course. Moreover, situational interest played a crucial role in mediating the impact of general intrinsic motivation and participation on performance. The results are discussed in relation to how educators and designers of MOOCs can use knowledge emerging from motivational assessments and participation measures gleaned from learning analytics to tailor the design and delivery of courses. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

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cover image Journal of Computer Assisted Learning

Journal of Computer Assisted Learning Volume 32, Issue 3

June 2016

104 pages

ISSN:0266-4909

EISSN:1365-2729

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John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

United States

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Published: 01 June 2016

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https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.4018/IJWLTT.348656
Yu ZShen YChu LYang SZhang X(2024)A Systematic Review on Engagement, Motivation, and Performance in MOOCs During the Post-Pandemic TimeInternational Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies10.4018/IJWLTT.33821619:1(1-21)Online publication date: 21-Feb-2024
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