Due dates in MOOCs: does stricter mean better?

摘要: Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) employ a variety of components to engage students in learning (eg. videos, forums, quizzes). Some are graded, which means that they play key role student's final grade and certificate attainment. It is not yet clear how the due date structure graded affects student outcomes including academic performance alternative modes students. Using data from HarvardX MITx, Harvard's MIT's divisions for online learning, we study dates on 10 completed MOOCs. We find stricter associated with higher attainment rates but fewer who join late being able earn certificate. Our findings motivate further studies use deadlines MOOC students, can help inform design courses.