Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials: A Comic-Based MOOC

This paper discusses the development of Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials as a MOOC offered on the edX platform. In particular, we discuss the decision to include comics and comic-based themes as a component of the homework assignments in the course. We present an A/B test conducted on the edX platform that compares the performance of students given the comic-based homework assignments with students given traditional homework assignments. No difference in performance is observed between the two groups. We also present survey data that compares the reactions of MOOC learners and residential university students to the comic-based homework assignments. The university students reported a high degree of enjoyment of the comic-based homework, while the MOOC learners had a more mixed reaction.