Through evaluating dominant MOOC platforms created by Western universities, I argue that MOOCs on such platforms tend to embed Western-centric epistemologies and propagate this without questioning their global relevance. Consequently, such MOOCs can be detrimental when educating diverse and complex participants as they erode local and indigenous…

While assessment for learning (AfL) has been widely used in college English classrooms in China where teachers usually teach large classes, how AfL is implemented in the large-class higher education (HE) context is relatively underexplored. To address this gap, this study explores some of the challenges presented by large classes and the teachers'…

Currently, modelling of knowledge and skills in a MOOC and the associated instructional and pedagogical engineering process is a major challenge in order to support designers and facilitate learning. This article explains how visuo-cognitive metaphors of the "metro map" and "travel" make possible the design of connections…

There is a growing body of literature that recognizes the role Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) can play in improving access to education globally, and particularly to thousands of people in developing and developed countries. There is increasing concern, however, that the millions of displaced refugee learners throughout Europe, the Middle…

Purpose: This paper aims to report on a study concerning a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), designed to support Greek-language teachers in secondary-education schools in implementing collaborative writing activities with Google Docs (GDs) in their classrooms. Data recorded from a post-survey were used to investigate teachers' views and…

In this study, we analyse 23 prospective teachers' lesson plans for short whole-class mathematics discussions held with students at a middle school. The plans are in the form of "lesson plays", where an imagined discussion between the teacher and students is written verbatim. We use the Knowledge Quartet as a framework to investigate…

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have been challenging the traditional model of higher education since their appearance in 2008. Nowadays they draw a great deal of attention from all the parties involved: students, teachers, administrators and investors. Although such courses offer a wide range of possibilities and hold considerable potential,…

Discussion forums are increasingly central to massive open online courses (MOOCs), and it is vital for learners to participate in associated forum activities. Active forum participation positively relates to learner achievement in that more posts yield better learner performance. However, this numerically aggregated measure overlooks the fact that…

To introduce active learning session for a large group of 250 students, we combined the strengths of problem-based learning and team-based learning to promote a structured active learning strategy with less faculty involvement. For the implementation of this strategy, a case on anemia was selected based on the module already covered in classes.…

Networked technologies have created many learning opportunities and led to new learning models such as massive open online courses (MOOCs). However, MOOCs are an evolving learning model that are even today changing according to learners' needs. First generation cMOOCs and second generation xMOOCs are now being followed by third generation hybrid…

In recent decades, the use of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) has changed according to the different goals and studies that have been applied. Therefore, it is very important to explore and examine these changes and identify the development of use and conception of MOOCs. This research is considered empirical in nature and focuses on studies…

This paper describes how a dynamic figure was used as the basis for a task designed to support students in developing the hierarchical classification of the kites and their subsets. Following on from a previous study using the task with pairs of students, I describe how I embedded the task into a pedagogical sequence of activities, which included…

Modern learning theories stress the importance of student-centered and self-directed learning. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) supports this by focusing on small group learning centered around authentic problems. PBL, however, usually relies heavily on face-to-face team collaboration and tutor guidance. Yet, when applied in online/blended…

This research investigated an initiative to familiarize pre-service teachers with Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as an example of Open Educational Resources (OERs). Student teachers in one faculty in a teacher education college in Israel were given the option to register on an international MOOC for credit. The purpose of the research was to…

An institutionalized program of peer-led study groups (PLSG) adds instructional power to our large-enrollment introductory organic chemistry courses. Concomitantly, there is a challenge to keep the instructional philosophy and subject matter coherent with the faculty expectations and goals across this diverse group of undergraduate instructors.…