Mobile and blended, please! Migrants and refugees’ learning choices in a language MOOC

Abstract

In this article, a study is presented of two socially inclusive Language MOOCs undertaken by refugees and migrants as part of the MOONLITE project. Three research questions were formulated on the types of devices the students prefer to use for the courses, whether that choice affects course completion, and if the teaching practice influences success on the courses. In order to answer these questions, qualitative and quantitative data were obtained from an initial and final student questionnaire, semi-structured interviews with the language teachers involved in the courses, and from the MOOC platform and YouTube Analytics. The data supported the conclusion that the students prefer to use a mobile device to undertake the courses. The majority of the students who used a mobile device successfully completed the courses. The near ubiquity of these devices and ease of use of the LMOOCs were arguably factors that made “anytime anywhere” studying possible. Regarding the teaching methodology, the majority of students who completed the course attended F2F language classes, found the online courses to complement them, and would have liked to have more time spent in the classes on the courses.