Friday 21 October 2016

#ic_moveme Challenges and opportunities of MOOCs in Iran by Shahrzad Ardavani

Education is an economic, political and social development and this idea and the problems this results in is tackled by research from Shahrzad Ardavani. 25% university students leave Iran: lack of jobs, superior research options, avoiding military service, candidates for suitable jobs in governments have to meet many non-professional related factors.

But what is a MOOC and hat does it stand for? Can digital learning of MOOC be applied to Iran and other developing countries. What are the pedagogical problems? MOOCs might not be as efficient for students in developing countries, they cannot feel the benefit of MOOCs due to a number of issues. Both infrastructure , language, educational policy makers concerned with international influence of MOOCs on the national educational system, some websites are restricted (culture and politics). Independent thinking is not encouraged. Coursera has attracted volunteers to translate MOOCs.
There are also problems from developing countries: ethos and pedagogic principles of MOOCs are aligned with the characteristics of educational terminology of their individual nation. The place where artefacts are being produced for FutureLearn overlooks barriers for global learners. The method of learning is different depending on the region, which is not always reflected in MOOCs.
A western tool carries western assumptions, eg. The users are not always familiar with self-directed learning. Therefor it is difficult to translate the MOOC platform to developing countries, in order to address these issues.

Symbiotic relationship: pedagogy of MOOCs looking at teaching approaches, disciplinary norms, the way learners interact within the course, participants learning culture. To investigate this, Engestrom’s activity theory (third generation) is being used, as it looks at the full system. It also allows a look at strength and weaknesses in a system. The project looks at FutureLearn, than compares native English students and Iranian students. To look at the differences between all elements.

(Inge sent link on activity theory from Grainne you saw passing on FB).