Big academic open course base on cloud computing

Abstract

BAOC is a proposal based on the MOOC modality for school courses. Approximately 90% of the course activities are carried out online, as in the case of MOOCs, this allows the course to have a greater coverage and the number of students served increases. In contrast to the MOOC, in our model the course takes place in an academic context, where a grade must be assigned to the student at a pre-established time. For this reason, it is include face-to-face activities to validate that the student acquired the knowledge and skills raised in the course objectives. Our model is not as flexible as the MOOC, it integrates accompaniment mechanisms that favor motivation and follow-up on the progress or lag of the student.

The technological architecture used for the implementation of the BAOC integrates a vitualized server set: an Application Server (here reside the available applications as services), a Web Server as the basis of the Virtual Learning Environment (Sakai) and a Database Server (which manages the structured information). It also includes a Video Streaming System for online session support in real time and a File Server (to share documents).

BAOC was applied during 3 years in the course of Numerical Methods in Engineering, in the Division of Basic Sciences and Engineering of the Metropolitan Autonomous University, with 1165 students participated. It was observed that the retention index oscillated between 68% and 74% and was decreasing up to 46%, however, in comparison with a MOOC course they are acceptable percentages.While for the approval index, it is observed that in autumn quarters it oscillates between 54% and 65%, and in the spring quarters the percentage of approval increases up to 77%.