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Lessons learnt from a professional development MOOC: Engaging culturally and linguistically diverse learners from low- and middle-income countries
Launois, Pascal · Allotey, Pascale · Reidpath, Daniel · Maher, Dermot · Certain, Edith · Ross, Bella

Published2019
JournalEuropean Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning
Pages 16
PublisherIGI Global
RegionEurope

ABSTRACT
This article reports on the lessons learnt from the pilot of a professional development massive open online course (MOOC) for a culturally and linguistically diverse student cohort located across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The focus of the MOOC was implementation research related to infectious diseases in LMICs. It was developed by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases hosted by the World Health Organisation, in collaboration with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. The pilot took place in late 2017 with a total of 110 participants from 29 countries across 6 continents. Participants were a mix of programme managers, researchers and local health workers. Drawing on online anonymous survey responses gathered on completion of each of the five modules and a focus group conducted with participants from the Americas region, the authors outline participants’ views of the benefits and challenges of the MOOC. Participants reported positive benefits in terms of increased knowledge and professional performance. Challenges related to time requirements, language of instruction, cultural context and online discussions. These findings will be of interest to those developing and facilitating MOOCs in LMICs for professional development purposes, particularly for learners from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

ABSTRACT
En el artículo se explican las enseñanzas adquiridas durante la realización preliminar de un curso en línea masivo y abierto (MOOC, por sus siglas en inglés) para una cohorte de estudiantes de entornos culturales y lingüísticos diversos, en países de ingresos medianos y bajos. El curso, cuyo tema fue la investigación aplicada relacionada con las enfermedades infecciosas en esos países, fue elaborado por el Programa Especial de Investigaciones y Enseñanzas sobre Enfermedades Tropicales albergado por la Organización Mundial de la Salud, en colaboración con la École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. El curso se impartió a finales de 2017 a 123 personas (directores de programas, investigadores y profesionales sanitarios locales) de 29 países repartidos en los seis continentes. Los autores reseñan las opiniones de los estudiantes sobre las virtudes del curso y también sus objeciones al mismo, a partir de las respuestas a una encuesta anónima en línea realizada al final de cada uno de los cinco módulos de que consta el curso y de un grupo de discusión para los participantes de la Región de las Américas. Los participantes mencionaron, como aspectos positivos, la mejora de los conocimientos y del desempeño profesional, y, como cuestiones que se pueden mejorar, las limitaciones de tiempo, el idioma utilizado, el contexto cultural y los debates en línea. Estos resultados serán de utilidad para todas las personas que preparen y faciliten la elaboración de cursos en línea masivos y abiertos en los países de ingresos medianos y bajos con fines de desarrollo profesional, sobre todo los dirigidos a personas de entornos culturales y lingüísticos diversos.

ABSTRACT
Cet article présente les enseignements tirés d’un projet pilote portant sur un MOOC de développement professionnel destiné à une cohorte culturellement et linguistiquement diversifiée d’étudiants issus de pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire (PRFI). Le MOOC portait sur la recherche sur la mise en œuvre concernant les maladies infectieuses dans les PRFI. Il a été mis au point par le Programme spécial de recherche et de formation concernant les maladies tropicales (TDR) hébergé par l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé, en collaboration avec l’École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Le projet pilote s’est déroulé fin 2017 et réunissait au total 123 participants venant de 29 pays situés sur six continents. Ces participants étaient des administrateurs de programme, des chercheurs et des agents de santé locaux. S’appuyant sur les réponses anonymes à une enquête en ligne, recueillies à la fin de chacun des cinq modules, et sur un groupe de discussion mené avec des participants de la Région des Amériques, les auteurs présentent les points de vue des participants sur les bénéfices du MOOC et sur les problèmes qui lui sont associés. Les participants ont fait état d’une amélioration des connaissances et de l’efficacité professionnelle. Les problèmes rapportés étaient liés au temps requis, à la langue d’enseignement, au contexte culturel et aux discussions en ligne. Ces résultats intéresseront ceux qui élaborent et animent des MOOC dans les PRFI à des fins de perfectionnement professionnel, en particulier pour des apprenants d’horizons culturels et linguistiques divers.

Keywords MOOC · professional development · culturally and linguistically diverse learners · online learning · continuing education · low- and middle-income countries · developing countries

LanguageEnglish
RefereedYes
URLhttps://www.eurodl.org/?p=current&sp=brief&article=809
Export optionsBibTex · EndNote · Tagged XML · Google Scholar



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