Customizable modalities for individualized learning: Examining patterns of engagement in dual-layer MOOCs

Dual-layer MOOCs are an educational framework designed to create customizablemodality pathways through a learning experience. The basic premise is to design twoframework choices through a course: one that is instructor-centric and the other that isstudent-determined and open. Learners have the option to create their owncustomized pathway by choosing or combining both modalities as they see fit at anygiven time in the course. This exploratory mixed-methods study sought to understandthe patterns that learners engaged in during a course designed with this pathwayframework. The results of the quantitative examination of the course activity arepresented, as well as the categories and themes that arose from the qualitativeresearch. The results of the analysis indicate that learners value the ability to choosethe pathway that they engage the course in. Additional research is needed to improvethe technical and design aspects of the framework.