Observing instructional design features in self-paced massive open online courses.

AbstractAlthough higher education institutions offer self-paced massive open online courses (MOOCs) on platforms like edX, little systematic effort has been made to examine their instructional design features. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to review self-paced MOOCs on edX and examine their instructional design features for those interested in designing and offering them: A total of 40 MOOCs representing engineering, computer science, communications, and business and management were randomly chosen for analysis. The instructional design features of the MOOCs have been organized in terms of course structure and elements of course information, as well as types of instructional videos, assessments, and online discussion boards. Issues regarding current instructional design features are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]