iMOOC: A Multiuser Platform for International Students to Navigate U.S.-style Virtual Learning Environments
Valeri Chukhlomin
Project Team- Anant Deshpande, Empire State College
- Bidhan Chandra, Empire State College
- Lorette Pellettiere Calix, Empire State College
- Richard Cattabiani, Ulster County Community College
- Xenia Coulter, Empire State College
Empire State College
2014
Tier Three
$57,000.00
This cross-campus collaborative project deals with developing an open access, Coursera course (iMOOC) and a range of supporting resources aimed at preparing international online learners to successfully integrate into virtual learning environments in American universities, including OPEN SUNY. The current course title is: “iMOOC101: Mastering American e-Learning". It is designed to help international on- and off-students become familiar with and better understand American culture and the academic system, refine critically important skills, learn about virtual learning environments and practice some of the widely utilized in the U.S educational technologies. The course is supposed to be an OPEN SUNY tool to attract and retain international online learners; also, to support campus-based international students in U.S. universities. Self-regulation and self-directedness are emphasized, as many international learners come from teacher-centered environments and are not used to student-centered pedagogies employed in many U.S.-based, online courses and programs.
Over 4,800 students registered for iMOOC on Coursera, which was promoted internationally through the Department of State.