Goal Setter
Background
With 101 million enrollments in 2018, MOOCs have drastically increased access to online learning resources. Yet, many challenges still exist in online learning experiences, including high attrition rates and learners’ sense of isolation.
So we created the Goal Setter - a web application that embeds in a MOOC to:
Increase learners’ motivation to continue the course
Provide a personalized, scaffolded goal setting experience
Afford new ways of connecting learners with one another
What is the Goal Setter?
The Goal Setter is a web application that can easily be added to any learning management system like Coursera, edX, and Canvas. It is an optional support tool learners may choose to utilize early on in a MOOC. Its features and content are not specific to a single discipline or setting, so it can be quickly customized for a MOOC.
Our current design includes 5 steps in which the learner:
Chooses a goal type of either “private” (that only she can see), a new “group goal” (that others can join), or joining an existing “group goal.”
Sets a private deadline for achieving that goal
Privately reflects on why that goal is important to her, identifies the biggest barrier she might face, and selects a strategy to overcome that barrier.
Writes an encouraging message to her future self, which she later receives via email.
Optionally engages with group members in a discussion forum, if she chooses a group goal.
Student-Facing Features
Two Goal Types - Students can create a public goal that other people can join, or a private goal that is only visible to them.
5 Step Process - The tool walks students through the goal setting process in a simple, step-by-step manner.
Group Goal Discussion Forum - If a student creates or joins a group goal, she will have access to a discussion forum where she can communicate with group members.
Group Member Profiles - Students can customize how their name and photo appear to group goal members. They can also opt into sharing their email address with members.
Progress Nudges - After students set a deadline for their goal, they will receive friendly nudges that prompt them to reflect on their progress. These nudges are delivered at the halfway point and near the arrival of their deadline. What do the nudges say?
The Goal Setter’s features were determined through background research, competitive analysis, persona creation, a Lightning Decision Jam, prototype creation, and prototype evaluation. We assessed our prototype using two methods: e-Learning System Evaluations (eLSE) and traditional usability tests.
You can read more about our process in our case study from CHI 2020 (Conference on Human Factors in Computer Systems).
Instructor-Facing Features
This tool currently offers limited instructor-facing features. Instructors can set a course title and learning experience type for the tool. “Learning experience type” is a term such as “course”, “teach-out”, “series”, etc.
Instructional Design Tips
Given the importance of setting goals earlier rather than later in a course, we suggest placing this tool near the beginning of your course content. An example order might be:
Course Welcome Message → Syllabus → Goal Setter → Week 1 Content
When considering the placement of the tool in your course, also note whether other surrounding content items direct learners to places outside the course (as the Goal Setter Tool does) or not. Ordering out-bound content items in close proximity to each other could be disorienting for learners.
Past Use Cases
Python Basics
This Coursera-hosted MOOC served as the pilot for the Goal Setter.
FAQs
I want to use this tool in my course. How do I get started?
The Goal Setter does not require any outside content or prepwork before you can use it. All you have to know when setting up the tool is what you want to call it (e.g., “[ your course name ] Goal Setter”) and what type of learning experience you’re using the tool for (e.g., a course, teach-out, series, or degree).
Can I override the default list of private or group goals students will see?
While you cannot override the list of private goal options, you can populate the tool with additional group goals by going through the goal setup process as a learner would. You can do this as many times as you like. You will just be asked to leave each group goal as you create new ones.
Can students have multiple goals?
No, currently students can only have one goal at a time. However, they can change their goal and any information related to it at any time. They can also leave one group goal for another one.
Can students edit their goals after they set them?
Yes! Students can always come back to the tool to edit their deadline or any other piece of the goal.
Can I use this tool for graded assignments?
No. While other tools, such as the Gamut Gallery Tool, support graded assignments, the Goal Setter currently does not.
Can the tool be accessed from outside my LMS?
No, in order for anyone to authenticate into the tool they must come from an LTI item within an LMS. For that reason, there is no public-facing component to any Gamut Tool.
How do I set up the tool in Canvas?
Contact 4help@umich.edu to request that you be given the role of “tool installer” for course so you can set up an external LTI tool.
Inside your Canvas course, choose or create the module that will contain the link to the tool.
Add a new “item”, and choose the “External Tool” type.
In the URL field, enter: https://goals.ai.umich.edu/goals/launch/
In the Page Name field, enter your desired name for the goal setter.
For the best tool experience, check the box “Load in a new tab”.
Add/save the item.
Click into the newly created item, and on the next page click “Load [ item name ] in a new window”.
Complete the configuration steps inside the tool, and publish the LTI item when you’re ready for students to start using it.
How do I set up the tool in Coursera?
Please submit a request for the LTI Credentials to receive your key and secret, and someone from our team will respond shortly with that information.
Inside the course shell, add a new LTI item (found under “More”)
Inside the new LTI item, provide a title and description.
In the version field, leave “Version 1.1” selected.
In the Launch URL field, enter: https://goals.ai.umich.edu/goals/launch/
Enter the provided values provided by our team for the consumer key and secret fields.
In the Learner Privacy field, select “Share learner ID, full name, and email address”
In the Outcome Callback field, select “yes” for graded items and “no” for ungraded assignments.
How do I set up the tool in FutureLearn?
Complete the steps outlined in this help article
Once the tool is reviewed and approved you may proceed with final configuration steps inside the Gamut tool.
Who do I contact if I have a problem with the tool?
We’re sorry to hear you’re encountering issues with the tool. Please submit a support request and we'll be with as soon as possible.