Williams, T. V., & Douglas, K. A., & Yellamraju, T., & Boutin, M. (2018, June), Characterizing MOOC Learners from Survey Data Using Modeling and n-TARP Clustering  Paper presented at 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--30186

\bibitem{asee_peer_30186}
  Williams, T. V., \& Douglas, K. A., \& Yellamraju, T., \& Boutin, M. (2018, June), \emph{Characterizing MOOC Learners from Survey Data Using Modeling and n-TARP Clustering}
  Paper presented at 2018 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition , Salt Lake City, Utah.
  10.18260/1-2--30186

Taylor V. Williams, Kerrie A. Douglas, Tarun Yellamraju, and Mireille Boutin.  "Characterizing MOOC Learners from Survey Data Using Modeling and n-TARP Clustering".  2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Salt Lake City, Utah, 2018, June.  ASEE Conferences, 2018.  https://peer.asee.org/30186 Internet.  28 Jun, 2024

\bibitem{asee_peer_30186}
  Taylor V. Williams, Kerrie A. Douglas, Tarun Yellamraju, and Mireille Boutin.
  "Characterizing MOOC Learners from Survey Data Using Modeling and n-TARP Clustering".
  \emph{2018 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition , Salt Lake City, Utah, 2018, June}.
  ASEE Conferences, 2018.
  https://peer.asee.org/30186 Internet.  28 Jun, 2024

@INPROCEEDINGS{asee_peer_30186
author = "Taylor V. Williams, Kerrie A. Douglas, Tarun Yellamraju, and Mireille Boutin"
title = "Characterizing MOOC Learners from Survey Data Using Modeling and n-TARP Clustering"
booktitle = "2018 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition "
year = "2018"
month = "June"
address = "Salt Lake City, Utah"
publisher = "ASEE Conferences"
note = {https://peer.asee.org/30186}
number = {10.18260/1-2--30186}
}

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) attract a diverse and large set of learners, with largely unknown learning needs and expectations. Researchers have begun to explore reasons learners enroll in MOOCs and have found that learners enroll for variety of reasons and have differing levels of prerequisite knowledge. A new approach to understanding the complex grouping of learners is needed. Commonly used clustering algorithms for large datasets do not take into account all of the dimensions a given learner has. In this paper, we present a computationally fast method to identify significant categories of learners based on their responses to pre-course surveys. 
The purpose of this paper is to test a recently developed modeling and clustering technique, 1-Dimensional Random Projection (RP1D) with survey data from MOOCs. The RP1D method was developed for high-dimensional data and has been used to find patterns in machine generated learner data. However, the approach has not been tested with survey data. The modeling technique proposed allows one to combine different survey questions and deal with missing responses in a robust fashion through use of a rubric. In order to understand the feasibility and appropriateness of this approach to creating learner groups, we ask, “To what degree does the modeling and RP1D clustering technique result in interpretable groups of MOOC learners?” We apply the technique on pre-course survey data acquired in four MOOCs of the following topics, thermodynamics, math puzzles, forensic science, and mindfulness. The survey asked learners questions concerning their goals for the course and their intended participation in Likert-style statements.
Applying the modeling and RP1D method resulted in distinguishable groups of learners in each course according to multiple randomly generated criteria.  Depending on the course, 2-6% of the random criteria successfully separated the learners into two distinct groups. For example, in the forensic science course, we found 31 criteria (of 1000) that identified significant groupings of learners.  Among the best separated of these learner groups was a 57%/43% split based mainly on differences in the learners’ extrinsic motivation dimensions.  A different criterion from that same course found a grouping based mainly on their lifestyle dimensions (a 70%/30% split).  Additionally, these criteria persist between the STEM and non‑STEM courses. That is, we found learners grouped into similar clusters regardless of course topic. The ability to separate learner types into distinct categories within and across courses is an important step in furthering the goal of enabling MOOC designers to better design online open educational systems to serve their diverse set of learners. The RP1D technique and implications will be further discussed in the paper. 

AU  - Taylor V. Williams
AU  - Kerrie A. Douglas
AU  - Tarun Yellamraju
AU  - Mireille Boutin
CY  - Salt Lake City, Utah
DA  - 2018/06/23
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Characterizing MOOC Learners from Survey Data Using Modeling and n-TARP Clustering
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/30186
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--30186
ER  -