Can MOOCs be an effective way to train adult learners in developing countries?

What is it about?

We ran a series of Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) to train researchers in developing countries on how to write and publish their research. The courses were run on the open source software Moodle, and were designed to be low-bandwidth (for slow internet connections) and socially interative. The completion rate for the course was high (over 50%), particularly for women, and participants who interacted in the forums. Feedback for the courses were extremely positive.

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Why is it important?

There are several reasons why this paper is important. There is not much research on the use and effectiveness of MOOCs specifically for developing country participants. This study showed that MOOCs can be effective when using a simple low-bandwidth approach and by socially engaging the participants. The paper also details two pedagogical models that were used - Garrison's Community of Inquiry model, which was used to guide the design and approach to interacting with participants; and a 'Guest Facilitator' model, whereby we utilised a small team of volunteers to answer questions in the discussion forums. It is significant that women were more likely to complete the courses than men, and that those who interacted in the forums were also more likely to complete the course. The overall completion rates of 50%+ are signicantly higher than for the average MOOC.

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