Abstract:

Given that the actions in hosting Massive Open Online Courses are limited in Greece, the Hellenic Open University and, specifically, the Laboratory of Educational Material and Educational Methodology implements the project "MOOC.HOU". The current project aims to design high-quality MOOCs that promote research, blended learning, and Distance Education's pedagogical principles. In this vein, the recent case study aims to present the specifications and the selection process of the most suitable LMS platform for HOU's MOOCs.

To achieve this, the Department of Creating and Managing Electronic Courses of HOU set the specifications of a Learning Management System as a MOOC provider via a complete prototype table. The specific table was formed based on a comparative study that took place in three phases. The first is a quantitative process of the essential features that the selection platform must-have. The second qualitative phase evaluates the different capabilities of the two most suitable platforms, Moodle and Open edX. In the third phase, the particular characteristics of each platform were checked in accordance with the specific pedagogical goals set by HOU. All the criteria for selecting an LMS suitable for MOOCs have been established.

As a result, all the technical and pedagogical features where Moodle and Open edX show capabilities and weaknesses have emerged compared to each other. Furthermore, the disadvantages of each platform have been assessed, and solutions have been explored. Finally, factors have emerged that need to be considered due to the unique nature of the ΗΟU.

Conclusively, the research results highlight the pedagogical and technical factors that must be matched with the specific nature of HOU's goals. Based on this, the specific case study can be used as a guideline framework to define the specification of the above platforms as a MOOC provider. The platform that HOU selected was Moodle.

Keywords:

Comparative study, distance learning, MOOC, Moodle, lifelong learning, Open edΧ.