Success Indicators for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) represent a popular option for delivery at scale. However, their effectiveness is still a matter of debate. There is no consensus on what success looks like in a MOOC. Common measures, such as completion rates and learner feedback, often fail to capture the diversity of goals and perceptions from different stakeholders. This paper addresses this issue, considering the views of MOOC providers, designers, facilitators, students, and other related institutions. It describes a variety of metrics based on a range of expectations, aims, and motivations. For a university, a MOOC might be successful if it results in an increase of its international prestige. For a learner, it might be so simply if studying the course keeps them active. The proposed model still requires further study, discussion, and refinement. Despite its limitations, it highlights the value of a multi-stakeholder, contextual approach.