Can we afford it? : The cybernetic determinants for pedagogical models in MOOCs

Abstract

Building on existing research this paper claims that the FutureLearn platform does not have the necessary affordances to support social learning at scale and presents qualitative and quantitative results of an intervention designed to enable discovery and engagement based on affinity. This intervention is also used as a lens through which to examine wider sociomaterial factors and novel pedagogical methods are suggested which place greater value on community approaches to learning.