Research Objectives

Research Objectives

Research Objectives:In this project, we aim at investigating whether, in the context of MOOCs’ implementation in
developing countries, MOOCs are providing – or are adequately equipped to potentially provide

Trucano, 2013. “Missing Perspectives on MOOCs -- Views from Developing Countries.”8
– ‘expanded’ and free access to higher education for a large proportion of the population: what
are the good practices, challenges, and the ways to further improve the quality of higher
education and application of MOOCs in the educational frameworks of those countries? How
can MOOCs help developing countries to expand access to education? Do MOOCs give access
to good quality education to people from developing countries?
In doing so, we will examine the development of the MOOC phenomenon, its primary goals,
and analyze its features: advantages and disadvantages, as well as possible ways forward, from
three different perspectives: 1) from MOOCs participants (both students who have completed
online courses and those who did not complete them), 2) from MOOC instructors, particularly
those coming from developing countries, and 3) from actors who are involved in the provision of
MOOCs in Universities (department coordinators and people who are in close contact with
creators of MOOC-providing Websites).

The report will begin with the discussion on the background of MOOCs and turn into detail
concerning the issues of objectives, pedagogy, accessibility and quality of MOOCs under our
Literature Review section. Subsequently, in the Findings Analysis section, the different
perspectives about MOOCs that we gathered will be presented; on their possible impact (or lack
thereof), as well as advantages and disadvantages for developing countries, from the perspectives
of students, instructors, and providers. Each section is introduced with an overview.