Investigating a MOOC educational model and the attitude of university students towards digital education

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic was a global crisis in one hand but at the same time it positioned distance learning in the forefront of the education worldwide. Digital educational and MOOC methodologies were suddenly utilised in wide spectrum - but with mixed results. In our paper we show that MOOC type of education can be an operational model for mass personalisation in higher education. Building on Technology Acceptance Models (TAM), we demonstrate the results of an empirical exploration research proving that such an autonomous - kind of 'campusless' - digital educational solution can be acceptable to higher education students. We conclude that MOOC education has proved to be viable/relevant based on the experience of our analysed population, but only if it efficiently supports learning and is suitable to promote autonomous learning. It also means that a simple solution does not necessarily result in a positive attitude among students.