Decoding the Indian MOOC learner

Massive Open Online Courses have been looked at both as disruptive innovation as well as the biggest experiment in education in recent times. 15 Million learners have turned to MOOCs as in 2014 and Indians constitute the second largest share of the MOOC user base. This paper attempts to understand some of the essential characteristics that distinguish a MOOC user from a non-user in India. A proprietary survey for understanding MOOC consumers has been used to draw insights on demographics of potential MOOC users including age, occupation, gender, educational backgrounds as well as some salient aspects of their personality, learning styles and life goals. Three logistic regression models have been tested. The first model investigates the impact of background demographic variables and internet skills of respondents on the choice to enroll in at least one MOOC course. The second model includes key personality traits that are hypothesized to influence the user adoption of MOOCs and the full modeladdsvariables pertaining to learning styles, learning environment and life goals. Those with better internet skills and an existing preference for learning through videos were seen to be significantly more likely to adopt MOOCs. Personality traits aligned with an openness to try new things were seen to influence the adoption decision but the learning styles and learning environment did not differentiate users from non-users. The results also indicate a significant influence of gender and age.