Research Article
Cristina Diordieva, Curtis J. Bonk
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep425
ABSTRACT
This qualitative phenomenological study investigates international instructors’ perspectives and experiences in designing a successful language-based massive open online course (L-MOOC). Detailed information was gathered during Summer 2018 about the instructor’s challenges and strategies through semi-structured interviews with seven participants in six different countries: Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The findings indicated that curating and facilitating a learning environment with a design team helps create an efficient L-MOOC delivery. Additionally, having multiple moderators per course and using forums helps with monitoring learners’ progress. Moreover, according to these seven L-MOOC instructors, having a course platform with rigid structures prevents using multiple activities and assessment tools for language learning. Interviewees argued that it is important to implement a learner-centered approach in L-MOOC, where learners can interact with each other and construct their knowledge. Future research studies may include exploring L-MOOC to address the best instructional practices and contribute to expanding research in language education in massive open online course environment.
Keywords: language-based massive open online courses, online language learning, learner-centered approach, instructors’ perspectives, qualitative approach
Research Article
Shivani Inder
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 1, Article No: ep336
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study is to develop and validate the scale for measuring the extent of student engagement for online courses. The study draws a battery of variables from literature on student engagement. The study proposes a 6 construct based scale with 26 items. A total of 1602 university students completed the responses for the scale. All participants had a minimum of two months of experience for online courses for inclusion in survey. Firstly, exploratory factor analysis on the initial scale has been carried out and then confirmatory factor analysis has been carried out for testing the validity and reliability of the scale. After establishing the validity of the scale, a scale with six main constructs has been confirmed. The results indicated that skills, emotional, participation and performance engagement along with value to students are the main drivers of student engagement for online courses. The scale can provide an insight to educators about the main factors that can lead to enhanced levels of engagement while delivering courses online and improve the learning experience for students.
Keywords: online courses, student engagement, confirmatory factor analysis, skills, participation
Research Article
Maxim L. Grunis, Inna I. Golovanova, Galiya I. Kirilova, Elena Y. Levina, Zhanna M. Sizova
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 13, Issue 1, Article No: ep289
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this work is to identify the transformations of communicative functions. These functions are associated with the subjects of communication in both fields: in pedagogical and organizational, also in the instrumental and design once during the process of creating digital video recordings for online courses. Questionnaires, observation, and factor analysis were used as research methods. It helped to formulate a popularity rating of digital tools for future teachers. The study was conducted at the Institute of Psychology and Education of Kazan (Volga region) Federal University. The study involved 120 people: teachers developing online courses and students studying at the pedagogical educational programs. Transforming indicators of pedagogical communicative competence are highlighted. These indicators are needed to be emphasized when improving teacher training. It will help future teachers to be able to effectively carry out their activities in digital educational environment. These indicators are: the ability to organize interactive cooperation during training, the ability to organize mutual exchange and development of students, the ability to create an open environment for analysis and improvement. The methodological aspects of the development of pedagogical communication functions in the dynamic environment of digital education and an interactive environment are disclosed on the basis of work with videos. Some recommendations for future teachers’ skills improving and development of training experience organization in the digital environment are given. These are a clearly-set-goal for educational video materials, adequate video content, skills for digital tools using, also the skill to choose adequate digital tools for a task fulfillment. The tool that can enhance enthusiasm, and stimulate students for productive work in a digital environment. The study allows improving video content and increasing the effectiveness of its use in the educational process. Also, the results of the experiment can become a basis for teacher training programs improving. Especially it can be useful for future teachers’ pedagogical communicative and digital competences development. The tasks developed within the frame of the research will be included in the assignments of pedagogical internship for pedagogical Master’s degree courses at the Institute of Psychology and Education of Kazan Federal University. These tasks for students include development and use of online courses with video materials.
Keywords: pedagogical communicative competence, digital educational environment, digital video recordings, educational videos, online courses
Research Article
Olga Pilli, Wilfried Admiraal
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 7, Issue 3, pp. 223-240
ABSTRACT
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as a new approach to distance education, which originated from the open education resources (OER) movement, are becoming widespread throughout the world. Over time, early versions of cMOOCs have undergone changes in terms of use, name and structure. In their short life, MOOCs have been categorized into different taxonomies depending on, for example, their types, pedagogies, orientations, target participants, resources and content. This article proposes a new taxonomy to position MOOCs on two dimensions: massiveness and openness, which brings a fresh perspective for understanding varieties of MOOCs based on the two definitional elements. The dimensions of massiveness and openness are identified and discussed. Based on these, we conclude two dimensional matrix with four categories: (i) small scale and less open, (ii) small scale and more open, (iii) large scale and less open, (iv) large scale and more open. This classification provides a comprehensive description of different types of MOOCs which could be helpful to answer the necessities of MOOC providers, educators, students, and researchers.
Keywords: Massive open online courses, MOOCs, Open learning, Distance education, Online courses, Taxonomy of MOOCs