A New Learning Model, Guided Soft Classroom, Integrating MOOCs into Conventional Classrooms for University Students

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have become more and more popular due to the advancement of technology that has brought up a convenient and flexible learning modal for various learners around the world. Based on our prior research of integrating a MOOC into a conventional course in 2015, the majority of students improved grades especially the ones who completed MOOCs course items on schedule. However, specific teaching and learning mechanism are still undiscovered. This year we further purpose alearning-enhanced model, named guided soft classroom, to provide a monitoring mechanism based on the analysis of progress data from MOOCs (Coursera) to enhance students self-regulated learning strategies. The monitor system is developed to identify students who need "guidance" throughout the course of the semester. Students behind expected weekly progress are asked to attend a guiding session provided by the instructor. According to the discussions and observations in the guided sessions, guided soft classroom delivers a flexible and minor pressured learning model for various learning patterns and individual situations. We expect students in guided soft classroom will perform better; moreover, we also discover other impact factors of self-regulated learning. This paper presents an ongoing research, validated questionnaires and focus group interview will be conducted and analyzed along with MOOCs data for this course to further demonstrate students learning outcomes, which will be presented in the time of conference.