A tri-phenomenon perspective to mitigate MOOCs' high dropout rates: the role of technical, pedagogical, and contextual factors on language learners' L2 motivational selves, and learning approaches to MOOC

Abstract MOOC attrition rates have become a research hotspot in open and online education, requiring researchers to pinpoint psychological, technological, pedagogical, and technical factors that could mitigate this problem. For this aim, the current study applied a tri-phenomenon approach to explore...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Amir Reza Rahimi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2024-03-01
Series:Smart Learning Environments
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-024-00297-7
_version_ 1797246949722685440
author Amir Reza Rahimi
author_facet Amir Reza Rahimi
author_sort Amir Reza Rahimi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract MOOC attrition rates have become a research hotspot in open and online education, requiring researchers to pinpoint psychological, technological, pedagogical, and technical factors that could mitigate this problem. For this aim, the current study applied a tri-phenomenon approach to explore language learners' perceptions of support coupled with the moderation role of their motivation plays in shaping their learning approaches to MOOC. To do so, 428 language learners who completed their online language course on the Iranian MOOC platform answered the study survey before getting their course certificate. An analysis of structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that MOOC instructional and peer support were positively correlated with learners' deep approach while negatively correlated with the surface one. Although technical support was provided in this instance, it did not contribute to shaping language learners' motivation and deep approach. Moreover, language learners who attended MOOCs to learn language intrinsically perceived more instructional support, whereas language learners who joined these courses to pass some obligations or get course certificates perceived greater peer support that could help them pass such criteria and shape their deep approach to MOOC. Further, both types of motivation significantly mediate learners' instructional and peer support within their deep language learning approach in MOOC. As a result of these findings, both theoretical and practical contributions have been reported in the study to lead MOOCs' enrolment to have a deep approach.
first_indexed 2024-04-24T19:50:56Z
format Article
id doaj.art-a9cf739c26d44be5bf2cc4d10024ed0f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2196-7091
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-24T19:50:56Z
publishDate 2024-03-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series Smart Learning Environments
spelling doaj.art-a9cf739c26d44be5bf2cc4d10024ed0f2024-03-24T12:36:59ZengSpringerOpenSmart Learning Environments2196-70912024-03-0111112210.1186/s40561-024-00297-7A tri-phenomenon perspective to mitigate MOOCs' high dropout rates: the role of technical, pedagogical, and contextual factors on language learners' L2 motivational selves, and learning approaches to MOOCAmir Reza Rahimi0Literatures and Cultures, and Its Applications, University of ValenciaAbstract MOOC attrition rates have become a research hotspot in open and online education, requiring researchers to pinpoint psychological, technological, pedagogical, and technical factors that could mitigate this problem. For this aim, the current study applied a tri-phenomenon approach to explore language learners' perceptions of support coupled with the moderation role of their motivation plays in shaping their learning approaches to MOOC. To do so, 428 language learners who completed their online language course on the Iranian MOOC platform answered the study survey before getting their course certificate. An analysis of structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that MOOC instructional and peer support were positively correlated with learners' deep approach while negatively correlated with the surface one. Although technical support was provided in this instance, it did not contribute to shaping language learners' motivation and deep approach. Moreover, language learners who attended MOOCs to learn language intrinsically perceived more instructional support, whereas language learners who joined these courses to pass some obligations or get course certificates perceived greater peer support that could help them pass such criteria and shape their deep approach to MOOC. Further, both types of motivation significantly mediate learners' instructional and peer support within their deep language learning approach in MOOC. As a result of these findings, both theoretical and practical contributions have been reported in the study to lead MOOCs' enrolment to have a deep approach.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-024-00297-7Massive open online courses (MOOC)L2 motivational self-systems (L2MSS)Learning approachTechnical supportPeer supportInstructional support
spellingShingle Amir Reza Rahimi
A tri-phenomenon perspective to mitigate MOOCs' high dropout rates: the role of technical, pedagogical, and contextual factors on language learners' L2 motivational selves, and learning approaches to MOOC
Smart Learning Environments
Massive open online courses (MOOC)
L2 motivational self-systems (L2MSS)
Learning approach
Technical support
Peer support
Instructional support
title A tri-phenomenon perspective to mitigate MOOCs' high dropout rates: the role of technical, pedagogical, and contextual factors on language learners' L2 motivational selves, and learning approaches to MOOC
title_full A tri-phenomenon perspective to mitigate MOOCs' high dropout rates: the role of technical, pedagogical, and contextual factors on language learners' L2 motivational selves, and learning approaches to MOOC
title_fullStr A tri-phenomenon perspective to mitigate MOOCs' high dropout rates: the role of technical, pedagogical, and contextual factors on language learners' L2 motivational selves, and learning approaches to MOOC
title_full_unstemmed A tri-phenomenon perspective to mitigate MOOCs' high dropout rates: the role of technical, pedagogical, and contextual factors on language learners' L2 motivational selves, and learning approaches to MOOC
title_short A tri-phenomenon perspective to mitigate MOOCs' high dropout rates: the role of technical, pedagogical, and contextual factors on language learners' L2 motivational selves, and learning approaches to MOOC
title_sort tri phenomenon perspective to mitigate moocs high dropout rates the role of technical pedagogical and contextual factors on language learners l2 motivational selves and learning approaches to mooc
topic Massive open online courses (MOOC)
L2 motivational self-systems (L2MSS)
Learning approach
Technical support
Peer support
Instructional support
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-024-00297-7
work_keys_str_mv AT amirrezarahimi atriphenomenonperspectivetomitigatemoocshighdropoutratestheroleoftechnicalpedagogicalandcontextualfactorsonlanguagelearnersl2motivationalselvesandlearningapproachestomooc
AT amirrezarahimi triphenomenonperspectivetomitigatemoocshighdropoutratestheroleoftechnicalpedagogicalandcontextualfactorsonlanguagelearnersl2motivationalselvesandlearningapproachestomooc