Examining the use of prompts to facilitate self-regulated learning in Massive Open Online Courses

The limited instructional support in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) inherently demands learners to self-regulate their learning. MOOC research shows that learners are more successful when they engage in self-regulated learning (SRL) behaviors such as planning what to study and reviewing study materials. However, many learners struggle with SRL. In this study, we examined the effect of two types of SRL prompts (i.e., questions or a combination of questions and recommendations) on SRL activities, course engagement, and performance in MOOCs. Learners either received questions supporting SRL, questions supporting SRL followed by recommendations, or neither questions supporting SRL nor recommendations. Log data was used to examine learners’ behavior in the MOOCs. Results showed the SRL prompts, in general, are effective in enhancing SRL-related activities and course engagement. However, the effectiveness of the SRL prompts may be influenced by the complexity of the MOOCs. The current study adds to the field of SRL by examining prompting as an approach to enhance SRL in MOOCs. •Prompts supporting self-regulated learning (SRL) were examined in MOOCs.•SRL prompts are especially beneficial for learners in more complex MOOCs.•Prompted learners completed more course items on time indicative of time-management.•No significant effect was found for SRL activities indicative of self-monitoring.•Log file analysis and process mining provide insight in SRL-related behavior.