ERIC Number: EJ1455345
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2472-5749
EISSN: EISSN-2472-5730
Available Date: N/A
MOOC Teaching Assistants' Global-Engaged Learning in the United States and China
Yue Li; Anne K. Armstrong; Marianne E. Krasny
Online Learning, v28 n4 p147-171 2024
How can we create a "global-at-home" learning experience for university students to engage them in serving global professional communities online? This study applied global engagement surveys alongside interviews and focus groups in online contexts to examine engaged learning outcomes of U.S. and Chinese university students who served as MOOC teaching assistants for course participants from over 50 countries. Findings from pre and post surveys showed that TAs significantly increased their scores on efficacy, political voice, conscious consumption and critical reflection. Further, qualitative analysis showed that TAs worked to adapt their language in communication with course participants, a key aspect of intercultural competence, and that they gained self-efficacy in online communication and in their ability to make a difference. TAs described affordances of online global-engaged learning, including accessibility, time for reflection, lack of implicit bias, creating long-term connections, and reaching large audiences. They also reflected on challenges, including lack of emotional connection, lack of response from participants, language barriers, and perceived lack of expertise. This study offers recommendations for designing online learning and community engagement experiences that can provide opportunities for university students to gain intercultural competence, efficacy, and reflection skills.
Descriptors: MOOCs, Teaching Assistants, Global Approach, Foreign Countries, Learning Experience, Outcomes of Education, Learner Engagement, Self Efficacy, Political Attitudes, Critical Thinking, Computer Mediated Communication, Language Usage, Intercultural Communication, Barriers, Interpersonal Relationship, Citizen Participation, Cultural Differences, Reflection, Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
Online Learning Consortium, Inc. P.O. Box 1238, Newburyport, MA 01950. Tel: 888-898-6209; Fax: 888-898-6209; e-mail: olj@onlinelearning-c.org; Web site: https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/index
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: China; United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A