Authorship Details
Publication Details
Language:
English
Resource Type:
Article
Publication Date:
2013
Publication Title:
eLearning Papers
Publisher:
elearningeuropa.info
Issue or Number:
33
ISBN / ISSN:
1887-1542 Summary
Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are a recent but hugely popular phenomenon
in the online learning world. They are hailed by many as a solution for the developing
world’s lack of access to education because MOOCs can provide learning opportunities
to a massive number of learners from anywhere in the world as long as they can access
the course through Internet. However, a close consideration of the ability of learners
from most developing countries to make use of MOOCs seems to contradict this
rhetoric. This paper discusses features of MOOCs and looks at them from a developing
countries’ perspective to conclude that due to a complicated set of conditions (‘access’,
language, computer literacy among others) prevailing in developing countries, MOOCs
may not be a viable solution for education for a large proportion of people in these areas
of the world. The paper further shows the need for more data on the demographics
of MOOC participants from developing countries to form a better understanding of
MOOCs role in educating people from developing countries. (Abstract by authors)