7.00x Introduction to Biology: The Secret of Life MITx on edX Course Report - 2013 Spring

MITx Working Paper #9

11 Pages Posted: 22 Jan 2014

See all articles by Daniel Seaton

Daniel Seaton

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Office of Digital Learning; Institutional Research

Justin Reich

Harvard University - HarvardX; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Office of Digital Learning

Sergiy Nesterko

Harvard University - HarvardX

Tommy Mullaney

Harvard University - HarvardX

Jim Waldo

Harvard University; Harvard University - Extension School

Andrew Ho

Harvard University; Harvard University - Extension School

Isaac Chuang

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Office of Digital Learning; MIT

Date Written: January 20, 2014

Abstract

This report describes 7.00x: Introduction to Biology - The Secret of Life, one of the first 11 courses offered by MITx on edX, a platform for delivering massive open online courses (MOOCs). Offered in the Spring of 2013, the content of 7.00x reflects the topics taught in introductory biology courses at MIT and many biology courses around the world. This report describes the course structure, in terms of the number of basic e-text, auto-graded problems, and video components. Following a methodology established for analysis of the first 17 HarvardX and MITx courses (Ho et al, HarvardX and MITx: The first year of open online courses), course registrants are described in terms of viewed, explored, and certified sub-populations, together with demographics. The diversity of student activity in the course, and the persistence of student interactions with the courseware, are addressed. The report concludes with descriptions of special features in 7.00x, including descriptions of a variety of new interactive problem types aimed at introductory biology.

Keywords: MOOC, Massive Open Online Course, MITx, HarvardX, edX, online learning, distance learning, higher education

Suggested Citation

Seaton, Daniel and Seaton, Daniel and Reich, Justin and Reich, Justin and Nesterko, Sergiy and Mullaney, Tommy and Waldo, Jim and Ho, Andrew and Chuang, Isaac, 7.00x Introduction to Biology: The Secret of Life MITx on edX Course Report - 2013 Spring (January 20, 2014). MITx Working Paper #9, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2382325 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2382325

Daniel Seaton (Contact Author)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Office of Digital Learning ( email )

77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
United States

Institutional Research ( email )

77 Massachusetts Avenue
50 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
United States

Justin Reich

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Office of Digital Learning ( email )

77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
United States

Harvard University - HarvardX ( email )

125 Mt Auburn St.
Cambridge, MA 02476
United States

Sergiy Nesterko

Harvard University - HarvardX ( email )

125 Mt Auburn St.
Cambridge, MA 02476
United States

HOME PAGE: http://nesterko.com

Tommy Mullaney

Harvard University - HarvardX ( email )

125 Mt Auburn St.
Cambridge, MA 02476
United States

Jim Waldo

Harvard University ( email )

1875 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Harvard University - Extension School ( email )

125 Mt Auburn St.
Cambridge, MA 02476
United States
7814420497 (Phone)

Andrew Ho

Harvard University ( email )

1875 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Harvard University - Extension School ( email )

125 Mt Auburn St.
Cambridge, MA 02476
United States

Isaac Chuang

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Office of Digital Learning ( email )

77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
United States

MIT ( email )

77 Massachusetts Avenue
50 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
United States
617 253-1692 (Phone)

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