Mass attrition: An analysis of drop out from principles of microeconomics MOOC
ABSTRACT In this article, the authors describe their Massive Open Online Course in microeconomics principles. Using the Cox proportional hazard model, they analyze the high attrition rate and relate it to demographic data, finding that younger students, U.S. participants, and females are less likely to complete the course. When designing a course, it may be appropriate to put more emphasis on the committed learners, as they have the most to gain from it. The challenge is to develop a flexible course that allows students to choose their pace and yet keeps the sense of community and sufficient structure to help completion.