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The effect of content-related and external factors on student retention in LMOOCs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2021

Kolbrún Friðriksdóttir Open the ORCID record for Kolbrún Friðriksdóttir [Opens in a new window]
Kolbrún Friðriksdóttir*
Affiliation:
University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland ([email protected])
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Abstract

Commonly, low completion rates in massive open online courses have called into question the quality of their learning materials and instruction. This paper attempts to identify crucial factors of engagement and retention in language massive open online courses (LMOOCs) in the context of the open online program of Icelandic Online, a self-guided course for second language learners of Icelandic. The study seeks to explore the impact of factors associated with the course’s instructional design on engagement and retention and reveal crucial determinants of attrition. The study depends on survey and tracking data from 400 learners and qualitative data from 62 informants in one course. It builds on previous studies on student engagement and retention in LMOOCs (Friðriksdóttir, 2018, 2019). The present study identified six content-specific factors that the majority of participants considered to be important for their motivation. Some factors, such as gradual and scaffolded presentation of input, had a positive impact on retention. Furthermore, statements from learners in the study who disengaged before completing show that non-course-related factors, such as time constraints, affect LMOOC retention. The study provides a new framework for how to promote student engagement and suggests specific strategies for other LMOOC developers.

Keywords

LMOOC retentionlearning analyticscontent-specific factorsreason for non-completionIcelandic Online
Type
Research Article
Information
ReCALL , Volume 33 , Issue 2 , May 2021 , pp. 128 - 142
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning

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