OK, I am not going to lie to you - sticking with a MOOC is hard. Not because it is hard work; in comparison to a university course, a MOOC is not difficult, or socially demanding in any way (shape or form). From the two courses which I am currently in - where the one is very presence heavy and the other is more traditional lectures - I can honestly say they are a far cry from a university course. We are talking apples and oranges. Perhaps even so much, that WHY they are different deserves som thought.
Firstly, I think the main difference between the two is the social, physical presence factor. Where class is, well class - even if it means only seeing your classmates twice, thrice a semester. So, while you may not see them on a weekly basis, you still have enough time to make social connections, which in turn mean that if you slack off, don't do the work, etc, you will look like (or feel like you look like) a dummy in comparison to every one else. It is basic psychology - we have chosen this social arena to associate with and hence follow the social codes which we (think) everyone is following, too.
On MOOCs, there is no f2f. You may meet people on web chats - which btw are great - but it is not the same as feeling any pressure to deliver simply because you will never be in the same web chat group again. I wish someone would think up some algorithm where the group of say 6 people gets 1-2 people exchanged each week. So there is SOME familiarity, but on the whole you have to face up to your colleagues. Now, bear in mind you will probably never meet these colleagues in rl, but for media savvy having to meet the same people and address them by name is very similar to actually meeting them. You feel some sort of responsibility to deliver.
Secondly, you know there is no test, no grand finale. For school/education/learning positive people such as myself, that actually sucks. I would LIKE a test, an exam. And actually, if that is the case and an exam is a major part of my motivation, I should probably consider taking The future of education, for example as a university course.
The problem with taking that MOOC - as an example - as a university course is that I cannot just go off to London every week to meet my fellow students at the University of London (mind you as MOOC student through Coursera, you are not actually a student of the University of London, just associated through Coursera). I don't have the time, and my family situation is as such that that is a totally impractical and unlikely thing for me to do. Also, taking a university course is expensive. Even though a lot of university education in Europe is free/cheap doesn't mean you have no expenses.
Therefore, thirdly as to why it is difficult, seems at odds with itself - there are no stakes. No stakes, low threshold, free to walk in and walk out as you please. No bleeding hearts' pleas to stay, no looking back. It is actually a really weird feeling, because never before have I felt like one little dot in a sea of pixels. It is strange to feel like - well, know - that no body will notice if you leave the group or give up. And it is a bit sad. I am glad a university education doesn't feel that way, simply because you can belong there, or chose not to belong, but at the very least relate to others in a positive, communal situation in ways which do not seem possible with a MOOC. It is very Robert Putnam - but it is like bowling alone.
