The Civic Mission of MOOCs: Engagement across Political Differences in Online Forums

Autor/inn/en	Yeomans, Michael; Stewart, Brandon M.; Mavon, Kimia; Kindel, Alex; Tingley, Dustin; Reich, Justin
Titel	The Civic Mission of MOOCs: Engagement across Political Differences in Online Forums
Quelle	In: International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, 28 (2018) 4, S.553-589 (37 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1560-4292
DOI	10.1007/s40593-017-0161-0
Schlagwörter	Online Courses; Large Group Instruction; Educational Technology; Technology Uses in Education; Political Issues; Politics; Beliefs; Educational Policy; United States Government (Course); Ideology; Student Attitudes; Student Behavior; Interaction; Peer Relationship; College Students + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Online course; Online-Kurs; Unterrichtsmedien; Technology enhanced learning; Technology aided learning; Technologieunterstütztes Lernen; Politischer Faktor; Politik; Belief; Glaube; Politics of education; Bildungspolitik; Ideologie; Schülerverhalten; Student behaviour; Interaktion; Peer-Beziehungen; Collegestudent
Abstract	Massive open online courses (MOOCs) attract diverse student bodies, and course forums could potentially be an opportunity for students with different political beliefs to engage with one another. We test whether this engagement actually takes place in two politically-themed MOOCs, on education policy and American government. We collect measures of students' political ideology, and then observe student behavior in the course discussion boards. Contrary to the common expectation that online spaces often become echo chambers or ideological silos, we find that students in these two political courses hold diverse political beliefs, participate equitably in forum discussions, directly engage (through replies and upvotes) with students holding opposing beliefs, and converge on a shared language rather than talking past one another. Research that focuses on the civic mission of MOOCs helps ensure that open online learning engages the same breadth of purposes that higher education aspires to serve. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01