6.00x Introduction to Computer Science and Programming MITx on edX Course Report - 2012 Fall

Abstract

This report describes 6.00x: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming, one of the first 11 courses offered by MITx on edX, a platform for delivering massive open online courses (MOOCs). Offered in the Fall of 2012, 6.00x is an introduction to using computation to solve real problems, aiming to instruct students with a variety of backgrounds and interests. 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 6.00x, with particular emphasis on assessment questions involving student submitted Python code.

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