TY - GEN
T1 - Learning About Learning at Scale
T2 - Methodological Challenges and Recommendations
AU - van der Sluis, Frans
AU - van der Zee, Tim
AU - Ginn, Jasper
PY - 2017/4/12
Y1 - 2017/4/12
N2 - Learning at scale opens up a new frontier to learn about learning. Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) and similar large-scale online learning platforms give an unprecedented view of learners' behavior whilst learning. In this paper, we argue that the abundance of data that results from such platforms not only brings novel opportunities to the study of learning, but also bears novel methodological challenges. We show that the resulting data comes with various challenges with respect to the granular, observational, and large nature of these data. Additionally, we discuss a series of potential solutions, such as sharing validated models and performing pre-registered confirmatory research. With these contributions, this paper aims to increase awareness and understanding of both the strengths and challenges of research on learning at scale.
AB - Learning at scale opens up a new frontier to learn about learning. Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) and similar large-scale online learning platforms give an unprecedented view of learners' behavior whilst learning. In this paper, we argue that the abundance of data that results from such platforms not only brings novel opportunities to the study of learning, but also bears novel methodological challenges. We show that the resulting data comes with various challenges with respect to the granular, observational, and large nature of these data. Additionally, we discuss a series of potential solutions, such as sharing validated models and performing pre-registered confirmatory research. With these contributions, this paper aims to increase awareness and understanding of both the strengths and challenges of research on learning at scale.
KW - behavioral traces, big data, learning analytics, online learning, research methodology, research validity
U2 - 10.1145/3051457.3051461
DO - 10.1145/3051457.3051461
M3 - Konferencebidrag i proceedings
SN - 978-1-4503-4450-0
T3 - L@S '17
SP - 131
EP - 140
BT - Proceedings of the Fourth (2017) ACM Conference on Learning @ Scale
PB - ACM
CY - New York, NY, USA
ER -