ERIC Number: EJ1446821
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 27
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2472-5749
EISSN: EISSN-2472-5730
Community in the Open: Supports, Challenges, and Impacts of Local Learning Communities of K-12 Adolescent MOOC Learners from Nepal
Online Learning, v28 n3 p497-523 2024
This exploratory qualitative study investigates the obstacles, local support, and learning outcomes for adolescent learners in Nepal taking massive open online courses (MOOCs). A convenience sampling method was employed, and a total of thirteen individual interviews were conducted with K-12 Nepali students. Utilizing thematic analysis, this study revealed that the major difficulties these learners faced were a lack of scaffolding, language barriers, limited technology and internet access, and unmatched learning capacity and MOOC learning objectives that were designed for adults originally. To address these challenges, a local community of teachers, peers, schools, and families played a significant role in inspiring learning, providing scaffolding and guidance, fostering a collective and open local learning environment, instilling motivation, and offering both emotional and technical support. MOOC learning increases the independence of these adolescent learners, supplementing school learning, supporting their career paths, providing practical skills beyond theories, and achieving mental well-being. The aim of this study is to address the existing research gap pertaining to the role of local communities in blended learning with MOOCs, especially within communities situated in the Global South.
Descriptors: MOOCs, Adolescents, Foreign Countries, Outcomes of Education, Elementary School Students, Secondary School Students, Scaffolding (Teaching Technique), Language Aptitude, Barriers, Internet, Educational Technology, Community Influence, Blended Learning, Developing Nations, Learning Processes, Community Resources
Online Learning Consortium, Inc. P.O. Box 1238, Newburyport, MA 01950. Tel: 888-898-6209; Fax: 888-898-6209; e-mail: olj@onlinelearning-c.org; Web site: https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/index
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Nepal
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A