Massive open online courses (MOOCs) improve student learning outcomes.

the verdict

CONTESTED PARTIAL

Recorded sources

6 sources for · 1 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Is it true that massive open online courses (MOOCs) improve student learning outcomes?

Partly. The retrieved items offer only partial coverage: several sources describe MOOC benefits, access, or hedged potential to influence performance, while one peer-reviewed commentary argues that without formative assessment and feedback MOOCs amount to information dumps rather than educational experiences. No item reports a measured, general improvement in student learning outcomes.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 6 sources for, 1 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Evidence for · 6

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): Why Do We Need Them?

2016

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Sandychris, I. & Sudha, P. (2016). Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): Why Do We Need Them?. eric.ed.gov. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED590312

Evidence against · 1

Peer assessment for massive open online courses (MOOCs)

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Peer assessment for massive open online courses (MOOCs). (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v15i3.1680

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More for · 5

Students' Learning Outcomes in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): Some Suggestions for Course Design

2017

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Students' Learning Outcomes in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): Some Suggestions for Course Design. (2017). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.2399/YOD.17.001

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): Data on higher education

2019

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Al-Rahmi, W., Aldraiweesh, A., Yahaya, N., Kamin, Y. B., & Zeki, A. M. (2019). Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): Data on higher education. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2018.11.139

E-Learning Practised Innovation towards Knowledge Management and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in Open University, Indonesia

2025

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Rulinawaty, Darojat, O., & Jonathans, B. A. (2025). E-Learning Practised Innovation towards Knowledge Management and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in Open University, Indonesia. eric.ed.gov. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1479015

Lessons learned on teaching a global audience with massive open online courses (MOOCs) on health impacts of climate change: a commentary

2019

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Lessons learned on teaching a global audience with massive open online courses (MOOCs) on health impacts of climate change: a commentary. (2019). hal.sorbonne-universite.fr. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-019-0494-6

Is MOOC really effective? Exploring the outcomes of MOOC adoption and its influencing factors in a higher educational institution in China -

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Is MOOC really effective? Exploring the outcomes of MOOC adoption and its influencing factors in a higher educational institution in China - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317701

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