FLAN – Leeds – King – Doing MOOCs in Dili – 2023-10-23

Talk given by Monty King of Unthinkable Digital at the tenth anniversary meeting of the FutureLearn Academic Network (FLAN) held at the University of Leeds / online on 23 October 2023.

Abstract

This presentation draws on ethnographic research investigating the potential for MOOCs to provide quality education opportunities in Dili, Timor-Leste. I spent time in and around university campuses and Wi-Fi hotspots in Dili between 2015 and 2017, interviewing students, lecturers, and other education stakeholders, to explore the problems and potential of online learning. I also conducted participatory action research, blending MOOCs with weekly face- to-face meetings. The research revealed that many participants accessed MOOCs to improve their applications for international scholarships. Another key finding was that MOOCs can provide quality professional development opportunities at scale in countries of the global South such as Timor-Leste, providing due consideration is given to local context, languages and knowledge.