How Can Interactivity Be Facilitated in a Massive Open Online Course? Lessons from the “Principles of Service Management” Course

Prior research on massive open online courses (MOOCs) suggests interaction to be a key characteristic in terms of improving learners’ engagement, skills development, and learning experience. This study investigates learners’ experiences of participating in MOOCs in order to develop a more detailed understanding of interaction behaviors and the factors that influence them. Based on in-depth interviews conducted with MOOC participants, the study sheds light on the factors that influence interaction as well as their alignment with the self-determination theory. The results indicate that five personal and five environmental factors play a role in either enhancing or hindering interaction. Supporting learners’ autonomy and personalized learning trajectories should serve to promote both interaction and engagement. Despite the autonomous nature of learning via MOOCs, educators’ guidance and encouragement are still required to enliven learners’ interactions. In fact, this study also elucidates the social nature of learning.