Enhancing Learning in Higher Education Using MOOC: The Experience of the University of Padua

Research on massive online open courses (MOOCs) is growing, but critical points about their use in blended courses are still being investigated and reported. A new MOOC designed on the principles of constructivism was launched on the FutureLearn platform by the University of Padua in October 2020 and was offered as an optional course to 31 students in a master's degree program. A case study methodology allowed the authors to explore its effectiveness in terms of improving participant learning, promoting learner engagement, and assessing learner satisfaction. A variety of data sources were used, and an in-depth study of the learning experiences reported by the students was carried out. Overall, the experience was effective, offering an example of an active and engaging MOOC that overcame challenges previously reported in the literature. Excellent results emerged from its use in the blended course, as it proved to be a valid integration tool for the development of new skills and knowledge in an international online environment; the course has helped open new paths for the use of MOOCs in the academic context.