How do learners’ content network characteristics evolve in cMOOC from the perspective of clustering and comparing learners?

ABSTRACT

The content network of cMOOC learners reflects the interactions between learners and valuable external information, and the learners in connectivist learning are diverse. Therefore, it's necessary to make a clear understanding of learners' participation types and content network characteristics. This study proposed a content network characteristics analysis model that included five indexes and corresponding computing methods. 251 learners were included and their interaction data were analyzed through cluster analysis, natural language processing and complex network analysis. The results demonstrated that there were four types of learners, namely “Connecters”, “Followers”, “Likers”, and “Commentators”. There were differences in the content network characteristics among the four types of learners, and the evolution patterns varied. Overall, the values of content network characteristics of Connectors were greatest, and the values of Likers were the lowest. Except for Likers, the content network characteristics of the other three types of learners all exhibited periodic evolution patterns accompanied by the key teaching events, but they varied in evolution trends, specifically manifesting as a spiral upwards trend for Connecters, a gradual trend for Followers, and a steady trend for Commentators. Finally, this study provides valuable suggestions for cMOOC designers and facilitators to support different types of cMOOC learners.

KEYWORDS:

• Connectivist learning; content network characteristics; evolution; learner clustering; natural language processing; complex network analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Supported by the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation under [grant number: GZB20230066], the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation under [grant number: 2023M740292] and the social science and humanities for young scholars by the Ministry of Education P. R. China under [grant number 23YJC880032].