INFORMATION AND NAVIGATION ON MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSES (MOOCS) OF UNIVERSITAS TERBUKA

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of information and navigation in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) of Universitas Terbuka (UT), with a focus on understanding and ease of use by participants. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the extent to which participants were able to understand and navigate the information provided in the UT MOOCs platform, given the crucial role of these elements in the success of online learning. Using a quantitative approach, this study involved 100 respondents, consisting of 65 men (65%) and 35 women (35%). Online surveys are used to collect data regarding participants' perceptions of various aspects of information and navigation, including general information about MOOCs, course descriptions, schedules, required device specifications, and platform navigation elements. The results of the study showed that the overall level of understanding of information and navigation reached 78%. The detailed analysis revealed that 85% of respondents rated general information about MOOCs as very clear, 82% were satisfied with the course description, and 79% found the course schedule easy to understand. However, only 68% feel that the information about the specifications of the required device is clear enough, indicating areas that need to be improved. In terms of navigation, 80% of respondents reported the ease of navigating the platform, with 75% stating that they could easily find the learning materials they wanted. Correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between ease of navigation and course completion rate (r = 0,982, p < 0.001). Gender differences were identified in several aspects, with male participants tending to be more satisfied with platform navigation (83% vs 75% for women), while female participants rated higher for the clarity of course information (87% vs 80% for men). Factors contributing to high satisfaction with information and navigation include intuitive interface design (82%), well-organized course structure (78%), and availability of comprehensive user guides (75%). In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of clear information and easy navigation in attracting and retaining the participation of UT MOOCs participants. These findings provide valuable insights for platform improvements, with recommendations including improved technical information, navigation optimizations for various devices, and design adjustments that take gender-based preferences into account. This study confirms that the success of UT's MOOCs is highly dependent on its ability to provide an intuitive and informative user experience, supporting UT's mission of providing quality education that is widely accessible to the public