Culturally Inclusive Online Learning for Capacity Development Projects in International Contexts
Culturally Inclusive Online Learning for Capacity Development Projects in International Contexts
Date
2020-03-20
Authors
Gunawardena, Charlotte Nirmalani
Editor
Corporate Author
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Commonwealth of Learning (COL)
Report/Paper Number
Abstract
This paper explores cultural inclusivity in online learning design by discussing two international capacity development projects; an online tutor mentor development program in Sri Lanka and a hybrid physician assistant training program in Ghana. Inclusivity involves establishing partnerships and conducting needs assessments to maximize the capacity that already exists within a given context, and addressing cultural factors that impact online learning: developing a learning community, negotiating identity, power, and authority, generating social presence, supporting collaboration, engaging in authentic inquiry-based learning, navigating interactions in a second language, and developing co-mentoring relationships to support learning. The paper provides a framework, WisCom (Wisdom Communities) to guide the design of culturally inclusive online learning incorporating lessons learned from international projects. By emphasising divergent thinking, consensus building, and the exploration of multiple solutions to complex, real-world problems, WisCom maximizes opportunities for participants’ diverse backgrounds and experiences to be valued.
Description
Subject
Inclusive Education,
Online Learning,
Capacity Building
Country
Sri Lanka,
Ghana
Region
Asia,
Africa
Series
Journal of Learning for Development;vol. 7, no. 1