Scalable Capacity-Building for Geographically Dispersed Learners: Designing the MOOC “Sustainable Energy in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)”
Series
Advances in Educational Technologies and Instructional Design (AETID)
ISBN
9781522526223
Type
case review (law)
Date Issued
2018-01-07
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Pandey, Umesh Chandra
Indrakanti, Verlaxmi
Abstract
Energy-related training is much needed for SIDS to achieve sustainable development goals and reduce energy poverty. Online learning enables innovative formats of practice-centered trainings that address local needs and help overcome geographic constraints by efficiently reaching learners on remote islands. To justify high course production costs, content must be re-usable and the instructional design must match participants’ motivation, skills, capacity, and constraints. An interdisciplinary university research cooperation used SIDS survey data to develop a learner-driven, collaborative online course for energy practitioners. Problem-based learning and peer-review mechanisms were used to localize knowledge and to practice real-world skills; sustainable institutional structures assure future iterations. The pilot reached a heterogeneous audience of 1,000 learners, geographically dispersed across the main SIDS regions. Principles of learning design outlined by the authors may also be valuable for capacity-building with geographically dispersed, heterogeneous learners beyond SIDS.
Language
English
Keywords
blended learning
distance learning
open educational resources (OER)
practice theory
problem-based learning
advanced professional training
energy policy
sustainability
small-island developing states (SIDS)
capacity-building
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC)
instructional design
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
HSG Profile Area
SHSS - Kulturen, Institutionen, Maerkte (KIM)
Book title
Open and Distance Learning Initiatives for Sustainable Development
Publisher
IGI Global
Publisher place
Hershey, PA
Start page
58
End page
83
Pages
25
Subject(s)
Eprints ID
261468