Blended MOOCs in higher education: Analyzing student interaction and satisfaction

Blended massive open online courses (bMOOCs) have emerged as a potential educational model that combines conventional in-person instruction with online learning. The investigation into students' level of interaction in bMOOCs is significant to the effective implementation of bMOOCs in higher education. This study investigates the perceived level of student interaction with their peers, instructors, content, and technology in bMOOC environments, the relationship between their interaction and satisfaction, and ways of enhancing student interaction. This research employs a mixed-method data collection approach, including qualitative semistructured interviews and quantitative data analysis, with the participation of 339 students at a higher education institution in Vietnam. The findings reveal that students' perceived level of interaction was quite high. Student interaction in offline classes was preferred to the massive open online courses environment. Besides, student interaction types and their satisfaction were positively correlated. The paper also addresses possible suggestions for maximizing student interaction in bMOOC environments and practical implications for educational practices in higher education.