Browsing by Author "Cagiltay,K."
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Article Citation Count: 23An analysis of course characteristics, learner characteristics, and certification rates in MITx MOOCs(2020) Çelik, Bilge; Cagiltay,K.; Celik,B.; Department of Basic English (Prep School)Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), capable of providing free (or low cost) courses for millions of learners anytime and anywhere, have gained the attention of researchers, educational institutions, and learners worldwide. Even though they provide several benefits, there are still some criticisms of MOOCs. For instance, MOOCs' high dropout rates or predominantly elite participation are considered to be important problems. In order to develop solutions for these problems, a deeper understanding of MOOCs is required. Today, despite the availability of several research studies about MOOCs, there is a shortage of in-depth research on course characteristics, learner characteristics, and predictors of certification rates. This study examined MOOC and learner characteristics in detail and explored the predictors of course certification rates based on data from 122 Massachusetts Institute of Technology MOOCs (MITx) on edX platform as well as data about the 2.8 million participants registered in these MOOCs. The results indicated that as the number of courses offered and the number of learners enrolled increased in years, there was a decrease in the certification rates among enrolled learners. According to our results, the number of average chapters completed, total forum messages, and mean age predicted course certification rates positively. On the other hand, the total number of chapters in a course predicted the course certification rates negatively. Based on these results, shorter and more interactive MOOCs are recommended by considering the needs of the learners, course content design, and strategies encouraging the enrolled students to enter the courses. © 2020, Athabasca University.Article Citation Count: 2Exploring the Influence of Countries’ Economic Conditions on Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Participation: A Study of 3.5 Million MITx Learners(2023) Toker, Sacip; Toker,S.; Cagiltay,K.; Information Systems EngineeringIt is well known that there are disparities in access to education around the world, with developed countries generally having better educational resources and opportunities compared to developing countries. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have been proposed as a way to bridge this gap by providing free or low-cost online education to anyone with an Internet connection. This study aimed to better understand the effects of location, both country and region, on the use of MOOCs, using data from 3.5 million learners who registered for MOOCs offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The data set provided a broad picture of how MOOCs are being used around the globe. The results of the study indicated significant differences in the use of MOOCs among students from different countries and their corresponding economic levels. In order to address these differences and improve access to education through MOOCs, the study suggested several actions that could be taken. These include providing better infrastructure and support for MOOC learners in developing countries, increasing awareness of and access to MOOCs in these regions, and working to improve the quality and relevance of MOOC offerings. Overall, the study highlighted the potential of MOOCs to bridge the educational gap between developed and developing countries, but also emphasized the need for continued efforts to remove barriers and improve access to these resources. © (2023), All Rights Reserved.Article Citation Count: 31Investigating the activities of children toward a smart storytelling toy(International Forum of Educational Technology and Society,National Taiwan Normal University, 2013) Kara, Nazan; Aydın, Canset; Cagiltay,K.; Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering; Surgical SciencesThis paper introduces StoryTech, a smart storytelling toy that features a virtual space, which includes computerbased graphics and characters, and a real space, which includes plush toys, background cards, and a communication interface. When children put real objects on the receiver panel, the computer program shows related backgrounds and characters on the screen. StoryTech encourages children to produce their own stories. Empirical research with a total of 90 children indicated that StoryTech contributed to narrative activities of children and made a positive impact on their creativity. The paper also focuses on the attributes, design, and development process of StoryTech. © International Forum of Educational Technology & Society (IFETS).Book Part Citation Count: 30Smart toy based learning(Springer New York, 2014) Kara, Nazan; Kara,N.; Aydın, Canset; Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering; Surgical SciencesThis chapter examines the general characteristics of and related recent research on smart toys. Smart toys can be defined as new forms of toys featuring both tangible objects and electronic components that facilitate two-way child-smart toy interactions to carry out purposeful tasks. In this chapter, smart toy based learning projects are discussed and the characteristics of smart toys as cognitive tools to facilitate learning are analyzed. This chapter also covers the relationship between smart toys and children's developmental stages-with a particular focus on motivation-in order to understand smart toys' potential effects on children. © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014. All rights reserved.