MOOC Learning Platform Development

Varun Gupta, Durg Singh Chauhan, Thomas Hanne

• Publisher: Auerbach Publications
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781032475165
• eBook ISBN: 9781000760118
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Government & Business

The work presented in this book is based on empirical study undertaken as a case study to understand the challenges faced in massively open online course (MOOC) based learning and experimentation to understand the challenges for presenting theoretical and practical courses. The book proposes a flexible online platform. This solution provides flexibility in distance learning processes including course enrollment, learning, evaluation, and outcome of degrees. The proposed system not only gives students freedom to choose their courses in accordance with their needs but also use earned credit towards online degrees of any university of their choice.

Introduction 1

1.1 General Introduction

Online learning is delivered to masses through online platforms like EDX, Coursera, SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds [SWAYAM]) etc. Such online platforms make it possible for learners to grow their career and learn new skills and knowledge by selecting suitable courses offered by leading universities. The learners have different backgrounds in terms of their age, educational levels and geographical locations and financial capabilities. Online learning makes it possible for learners to gain education that is equivalent to full-time education that would otherwise not be possible due to geographical, financial and educational constraints (Al-Shabandar et al., 2018). Such online courses are low-cost learning solutions compared to full-time learning from the same university professors who are delivering the online course. Online learning is offered through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Online courses could be certificate courses, credit-based courses or just audit courses offered at different fees.

In India, the government has also tried to utilize the benefits of advancements in IT to offer MOOCs to learners, thereby allowing them to enhance their knowledge, skills and abilities by learning at their own pace and time. MOOCs are developed by leading Indian universities and thus learners get the benefit of being taught by professors from these leading universities, and this would otherwise not have been feasible. Earlier, MOOC courses were offered as certificate courses but now, the government has launched the SWAYAM programme to offer online education from ninth grade to postgraduation (https://swayam.gov.in/). Under this programme, online courses are prepared and offered by professors from leading Indian universities. Candidates can enroll for any course of the choice, which may be credit based or non-credit based, offered completely online and free of cost. The credits earned by candidates could be transferred to the courses of their degree subject to a maximum of 20% per semester for both full-time and part-time degrees. However, even for those who are not enrolled in such degrees, they may still study these courses and earn credits. Courses (practical and theoretical) of different domains and disciplines are offered through SWAYAM (https://swayam.gov.in/). The government of India has now allowed universities to offer online degrees through SWAYAM or any other online platform (with prior permission) thereby making it pos...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Authors
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Challenges in Online Learning through MOOCs: A Case-Study Based Approach
• 3 Experimental Evaluation of Online Learning Gaps of Practical and Theoretical Courses
• 4 Flexible Higher Education through SWAYAM
• 5 SWAYAM – Future Benefits to Indian Development
• 6 Conclusion and Future Work
• Bibliography
• Appendix: Questionnaire for Case Study
• Index