Open Learning Talks: MOOC engagement during the Covid-19 pandemic

Watch the recording: https://youtu.be/xc97MYyxXQ0

In the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, online learning surged as never before. MITx courses saw enrollment numbers double and more over previous course runs. The MITx MOOC, 7.00x, Introduction to Biology, saw a particular spike in interest as learners all over the world—locked down at home, and facing new fears and uncertainties—sought a better understanding of the science of life. But did increased enrollment result in greater engagement, higher completion rates, or greater learning? 

Mary Ellen Wiltrout, a Digital Learning Lab scientist and Director of Online and Blended Learning Initiatives and Lecturer in MIT’s department of biology, advised three MSRP students to interrogate this question as a part of the uniquely remote 2020 MSRP Biology program. Working with BSG-MSRP-Bio Fellow Katie Blackwell, they evaluated data for 7.00x over several course runs, aiming to better understand engagement, participation, and learner demographics from the course before and during the pandemic. Their resulting paper was published in the European MOOC Stakeholder Summit (EMOOCs 2021) conference proceedings.

In this talk, Wiltrout and Blackwell shared their research findings and insights with biology professor Tania Baker. They discussed different types of learner engagement in MOOCs, and what lessons instructors and course designers can take away from online learning during the pandemic.

This event was free and open to the public. Watch the recording: https://youtu.be/xc97MYyxXQ0.

Twitter: #OLTalks

Bios

Mary Ellen Wiltrout oversees the MIT biology department's digital learning strategy, applying her teaching experience, subject matter expertise, and learning sciences research knowledge to transform the biology curriculum at MIT in collaboration with the faculty through digital learning projects. The projects include blended learning experiences for MIT students and MOOCs that are shared with the world. She takes a learning engineering approach to the design process to focus on the learners and make data-informed decisions. Mary Ellen enjoys training and mentoring other teaching staff, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates in this discipline. The group created and manages three of ClassCentral's top 100 online courses of all time. She has a PhD in biology from MIT.

Katie Blackwell is an MIT biology PhD student and recipient of a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, having been accepted into the graduate program following her MSRP fellowship. She earned a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry and molecular biology with a focus in secondary STEM education from the University of Texas at Dallas. As an MSRPx-Biology 2020 summer student, she completed the 7.QBWx Quantitative Biology Workshop, helped develop  the 7.06x Cell Biology series, and investigated learner engagement in the 7.00x MOOCs.

Tania Baker is E. C. Whitehead Professor of Biology at MIT and an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Her current research explores mechanisms and regulation of enzyme-catalyzed protein unfolding, ATP-dependent protein degradation, and remodeling of the proteome during cellular stress responses. She also is the faculty advisor for MITx Biology, which collaborates with MIT faculty to develop online learning experiences for MIT students and MITx MOOC learners.

Open Learning Talks bring together leaders in learning to discuss new research-based ideas, technologies, and efforts in education, at MIT and around the world. See past and upcoming events in this series.