A multi-objectives optimization to develop the mobile dimension in a small private online course (SPOC)

Abstract

The impact of the mobile technology trend is being felt in several sectors today, including education. In this paper, we present an analysis of the development of the mobile dimension in a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) or a Small Private Online Course (SPOC) as a decision-making problem among various approaches which cannot be ordered incontestably from the best to the worst. This is due to the fact that the various approaches to integrate the mobile dimension are different and that each solution presents both advantages and shortcomings from a technological point of view. The decision must be made on the basis of the end-users' requirements and usage. We propose to view this situation as a multi-objective optimization problem as the decision is a compromise between several conflicting objectives/criteria. The various approaches to the development of mobile access to a MOOC/SPOC are presented first and then compared using various criteria. Then we provide an analysis of the alternatives to find the non-dominant Pareto solutions.