I joined the MOOC titled “Crypto and Cryptocurrencies” offered by Princeton University on Coursera. This topic is organized into 11 weeks with lecture videos, quiz questions and assignments. This is a familiar structure that I have seen in other in-person and online classes that I have taken. The lecture videos contain various professors talking beside PowerPoint presentations, making its approach similar to those of ‘traditional’ courses. Each video is between 5-30 min long and is followed by a one-question quiz which I had the option to skip. All quizzes and assignments are participatory because this is a free course that does not offer a certificate per Princeton University policy. There are 3 major programming assignments each weighing 33.33% of your course grade. You must receive a minimum of 60% in order to pass the assignments. Assignments are deemed mandatory but can be treated as participatory because again, there is no certificate. The major difference in this course in comparison to other courses that I have done is the lack of peer connection. This course is entirely asynchronous and self-directed, which means that it would best suit individuals with self-discipline and perseverance. The information shared throughout the course is highly valuable. Furthermore, this MOOC would be considered an xMOOC because all of the course materials are posted online in a structured setting. The course’s pedagogy followed a cognitive-behaviourist approach, with the belief that students would learn directly from their instructors.

Through this assignment, I achieved my learning goals, as it introduced me to the world of MOOCs and their accessibility. I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of registration and navigation, and the vast array of free courses available to anyone with internet access. Discovering MOOCs has opened up a wealth of opportunities for me to expand my knowledge and skills in diverse areas.