Results from our survey of 200+ online learners about Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) -- experiences with Coursera, Udacity, edX, MIT Open CourseWare.com and other online education platforms, needs and preferences with respect to online learning. Survey was conducted in June 2013 in a population pre-disposed to higher education and learning.

1. Opinions On Online Courses
A Survey Of Learning Needs And Preferences
July 2013

2. 2
We surveyed friends and networks pre-disposed to
online learning. No incentive provided to participate
212TOTAL SURVEY
PARTICIPANTS
18-61
AGE RANGE
OF SURVEY
PARTICIPANTS
95%
HAVE HEARD OF AT LEAST
ONE MAJOR ONLINE
COURSE PROVIDER
INCLUDED IN SURVEY
79%HAVE TRIED AT LEAST
ONE ONLINE COURSE
73%
HAVE ONE
OR MORE
ADVANCED
DEGREES
4.2
AVERAGE NUMBER OF
COURSES TAKEN
BY PARTICIPANTS
1.7
AVERAGE NUMBER OF
COURSES COMPLETED
BY PARTICIPANTS
USA &
INDIA
MAJORITY OF
PARTICIPANTS
FROM THESE TWO
COUNTRIES

3. 3
Awareness highest for MIT OpenCourseWare &
Coursera. Trial rate highest for Coursera.
Definitions
Awareness: Of all surveyed, how many have heard of platform?
Trial %: Of all who have heard of platform, how many have tried a course on it?
Approval rating: Of all who tried a platform, how many liked it & will use again?

4. 4
Curriculum, teaching method, reputation and price
most important criteria for course selection

5. 5
General interest and career are primary motivators.
Lack of time most common reason for dropping out.

6. 6
Those without advanced degrees more likely to take
online courses for career growth

7. 7
60% willing to pay for online learning and prefer to
learn fully online

8. 8
Propensity to learn online is greater among those with
fewer existing degrees

9. 9
Willingness to pay for online learning also greater
among those with fewer existing degrees

10. 10
Course discovery and lack of peer groups are primary
challenges faced by online learners

11. 11
Learners find courses via web search, browsing well-
known providers, and friends’ recommendations
How do you find online courses?

12. 12
We’d love to hear from you!
contact@mysliderule.com
Help us make this research more robust by filling out the
5-minute survey:
bitly.com/onlinelearningsurvey
We will update this analysis once we have a meaningfully
larger sample!