ADOPTION AND UTILIZATION OF MOOCS IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A STUDY ON AWARENESS, PERCEIVED BENEFITS, AND BARRIERS

Abstract

The present study investigated university students' awareness, perceived benefits and barriers faced while attending MOOCs. Concurrent mixed-methods research design was applied to conduct the present research. 155 university students participated in survey which was selected through a simple random sampling technique. Additionally, eight participants were interviewed. For quantitative section, data was collected through a structured questionnaire while for qualitative research section semi structured interviews were conducted. Results revealed that most university students are aware of Massive Open Online Courses. Results showed that most of the students agreed that MOOCs are beneficial in the context of accessibility, networking opportunities, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, diverse course offerings, innovative learning methods, and skill development. However, students also faced barriers while adopting MOOCs such as limited interaction, personal initiative required, technical problems, assessment challenges, credibility and recognition, and overwhelming choices. Access to MOOCs platforms, flexible learning approach, enriched learning experiences and opportunities, integrating MOOCs into traditional  learning environment are the themes emerged from semi structured interviews. Major recommendations include encouragement of direct interaction among students and teachers, offering personalized feedback, employ effective pedagogies and opt for quality content may overcome barriers of using MOOCs among students.