The colMOOC: Integrating Conversational Agents and Learning Analytics in MOOCs

<< Background >>The colMOOC project produced a conversational agent component that can be embedded in MOOCs chat rooms and pose domain relevant questions to peers facilitating productive forms of dialogue, and a relevant learning analytics component, providing visualized feedback relevant to these activities. The colMOOC project has developed four pilot MOOCs and administered 12 ‘trials’ (experimental activities) engaging MOOC learners in interactive social forms of learning facilitated by CA/LA components.<< Objectives >>O1. Develop new learning and teaching methods for MOOCs building on novel technologies in collaborative learning like conversational agents.O2. Promote innovative solutions to current and future challenges and for sustainable impact on Europe’s education and training systems. O3. Demonstrate and validate the built capacity for innovative teaching and learning methods. O4. Spread the best practice pilots built in the project to all participating universities.<< Implementation >>The colMOOC project organized implementation in 8 WorkPackages as follows: •WP1: Educational approach construction and framework •WP2: Conversational agent component •WP3: Learning analytics component•WP4: System Integration•WP5: Courses preparation, trials and evaluation •WP6: Policy recommendations and Community of Practice •WP7: Dissemination, Exploitation & Impact•WP8: Project Management Two amendments of the initial project workplan took place during implementation.<< Results >>R1.1: CA/LA components and related pedagogical methods developed and their impact explored.R2.1: The colMOOC platform can be flexibly embedded to different MOOC platform R3.1: Overall 12 trials (research activities) utilizing 10 MOOC “editions” of the four pilot MOOCs.R4.x: Info days and workshop, Project website, Virtual Community of Practice, Policy recommendation list, Scientific publications, Dissemination actions, Exploitation and sustainability plan