Presentation by Patricia McKellar, University of London Undergraduate Laws Programme. MOOC: English Common Law (https://www.coursera.org/course/engcomlaw) Last year the University of London International Programmes launched four MOOCs on the Coursera platform and the report on their implementation was published in November (http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/mooc_report-2013.pdf). Since then, members of the teams who delivered these MOOCS have been asked many questions about their experiences so the Centre for Distance Education (www.cde.london.ac.uk) arranged a seminar to provide more information on the practicalities of how you actually set up and run such a course.

1. Practicalities of Running a
MOOC
Patricia McKellar, Associate Director & Pat Lockley, Learning Systems
Developer Undergraduate Laws Programme
Dr Matthew Yee-King, Research Fellow, Goldsmiths
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2014
CDE Seminar, January

2. Why did Laws deliver a MOOC?
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Consider alternative delivery methods
Need to embrace pedagogical innovation
On a ‘massive’ scale
Not restricted by regulatory framework
Curiosity- who would be attracted to the course?
Would it expand access? Would we attract more
students?
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3. Who was involved?
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Laws Team ( Law, education and IT)
IP Team (link with Coursera)
Instructors (Content creation)
Interactive material support
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5. • Standard VLE format
• Possibility to vary menus
• Customisation
• Clean, clear interface
• Easy access to
components
• Interactivity
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6. Conversion rates
Active students are classified as unique uses who viewed or downloaded a lecture,
attempted a quiz, registered after the MOOC start date and/or posted on the MOOC
forums.
Conversion rate:
Conversion rate:
35%
35%
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7. Active users for ECL MOOC
Active students are classified as unique uses who viewed or downloaded a lecture, attempted a
quiz, registered after the MOOC start date and/or posted on the MOOC forums.
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8. Student profile
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From: US, Spain, India, Brazil,
Age: 22-40 years (40%)
Why?: Curiosity (40%) Career related 40%
Highest Qualification: PhD: 9% Masters: 40%
Undergrad:40%
• Current employment: Business professional (non
law) 20%, Law related 20%
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9. Coursera
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14. Managing and Monitoring the Forums
• How much intervention?
• Time spent monitoring
• Forums were ‘public’
1. Positive posts
2. Commercial posts
3. Concerning posts
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15. Comment on Forum re Why do UoL law degree?
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First, the U of L LLB is a distance learning degree. As such, I will be able to satisfy
my considerable interest in the law without, ostensibly, leaving my house.
Second, the cost is roughly 1/10th of what it would cost me to undertake a JD at
my local university.
Third, I am not in a position to undertake a JD program on a full-time basis.
(There are no evening programs within a 60-mile radius of my home.)
Fourth, I desire to learn not only substantive (black letter) law, but also study the
topics therein through a socio-legal lens.
Fifth, my wife and I desire to, one day, reside in the UK. Hence, I would be
completing the program with an eye toward, ultimately, re-training as a solicitor.
(The U of L LLB is a "qualifying law degree" in England and Wales.)
Finally, I already possess U.S. Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Consequently,
adding additional, substantial debt to my existing debt load (as I would by
undertaking a JD program) is an unpalatable notion, at best.
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16. Comment on Forum re asking for more courses
I support you fully! This course is by far the most enjoyable Coursera course I have
done. Due to my busy work schedule, I have not been able to complete other courses I
attempted previously by the schools in America with Coursera. It was for the first time I
was able to complete a Coursera course. Also, it was for the first time, I felt that the
course's structure was meant to treat me the student like an adult. Previous courses
had those weekly quizzes with very limited hard deadlines making me not able to
complete the courses due to my hectic work days. In previous courses, I felt like I
was being pampered with weekly quizzes, most of them were due at the end of the
same week in question. Yes, lets ask the University of London to do more courses. I
will sign up right away. David, you echoed the same feelings I have about the
university's teaching strategies. I am very satisfied with this course. I recommend this
school to anyone who wants to learn.
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18. Completion rates
Comparing week 1 active users to the completion rates
Completion rate:
Completion rate:
18%
18%
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19. What did we achieve?
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Test the platform
Test innovative pedagogies
Transfer knowledge to our own courses
Repurpose the resources
Marketing?
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