Investigating the effectiveness of using MOOCs and webinars in enhancing teaching and learning in a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFLA) course in a distance education environment : a case study of a Short Learning Programme
Marx, Rona
Distance education is, by its very nature, a response to the development of
communications technology in the Industrial Era, coupled with the societal
changes initiated by these developments (Garrison and Cleveland-Innes,
2010: 14). The current distance learning landscape is thus shaped by
changing social needs brought about by the impact of advancements in
technology.
This case study investigates the effectiveness of new aspects of digital
learning tools as additional resources in the TEFLA course, a Short
Learning Programme (SLP), offered by UNISA. These aspects of digital
course delivery introduce e-learning by incorporating synchronous and
asynchronous digital teaching and learning tools, in the shape of MOOCs
(asynchronous learning), as well as webinars (synchronous learning). This
study reviews the effectiveness of these online tools in enhancing the
learning experience of TEFLA students.
The theoretical framework that informs this study is based on the
connectivism and socio-cultural theories of knowledge acquisition.
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