Most of the MOOC application replied on the stable internet access, it was designed to retrieve, interact and digest in that way. I wonder if we consider the infrastructure limitation, this may closer to the traditional e-learning research with a medium that people can bring home and launch standalone.

This idea sounds a little bit old fashion, but it may provide an insight to re-invent the MOOC for internet limited region, or even more, a more localize style MOOC, when I read this news: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/23/cuba-offline-internet-weekly-packet-external-hard-drives

This is the most vitality news to see how people interact with the information technology, in their own way. Sorry, not provide too many useful research resources, hope this helps to gain you some new ideas. :)

Most of the MOOC application replied on the stable internet access, it was designed to retrieve, interact and digest in that way. I wonder if we consider the infrastructure limitation, this may closer to the traditional e-learning research with a medium that people can bring home and launch standalone.

This idea sounds a little bit old fashion, but it may provide an insight to re-invent the MOOC for internet limited region, or even more, a more localize style MOOC, when I read this news: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/23/cuba-offline-internet-weekly-packet-external-hard-drives

This is the most vitality news to see how people interact with the information technology, in their own way. Sorry, not provide too many useful research resources, hope this helps to gain you some new ideas. :)

I think you raised a relevant point in bringing equal access to all stakeholders, especially those in remote areas with low connectivity. After all, flexibility is the hallmark of online education. Here's what is available in RG that I hope would be helpful to answering your question:

https://www.researchgate.net/search.Search.html?type=publication&query=delivering%20MOOCs%20into%20underconnected%20areas&tabViewId=57d6d846217e20fd45019943&previous=researcher

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291523527_Flexible_Learning_Environments-Theories-Trends-Issues

Best regards,

Debra

Data Flexible Learning Environments-Theories-Trends-Issues

You may like to read about our experiment of using Whatsapp https://www.academia.edu/27075904/New_Trend_Whatsapp_Learning_Curriculum_Magazine

Thank you all for the answers.

@Chunhua Tsai, thanks for the link. Indeed, recording data on portable storage (CD, DVD, USB sticks and even HDDs) and then manually transporting it (using 'mechanical backhaul') is one of the ways to deliver content in areas without any Internet connection. I've added below some papers with other existing approaches relying on the manual delivery.

@Debra Sharon Ferdinand, thanks for the papers. I have just checked them, but none is discussing the aspects of MOOCs delivery in the conditions of poor Internet connectivity.

@Ramesh C Sharma, thank you for the paper. It is a really interesting idea to deliver MOOCs with messaging apps (WhatsApp in your paper) given the adoption of messengers in the developing countries.

Could you please provide more details explaining how exactly WhatsApp was used? I did not find much information about that in the paper. Did you post some learning materials into a group and in which format (plain files?), or were just messaging with students? Did all of the students have a wireless Internet connection? Any details are appreciated.

@Harshvardhan Singh thanks for the links, in particular for the EduTech report, it seems to contain relevant cases. Will need to study it in more details.

Conference Paper Low-cost communication for rural internet kiosks using mecha...

Article Facilitated video instruction in low resource schools

Conference Paper FlashPatch: Spreading software updates over flash drives in ...

My starting question when I read this request was "why a MOOC?"  And then I wondered if you were thinking of the traditional approach to MOOCs which seems to rely on a good deal of canned video (bandwidth issue, and accessibility issue).

There are so many other asynchronous, stable, less intensive bandwidth approaches to distance education that work with underconnected areas.   Of course, the other question is what's the content and relative importance of the content.   I understand that a number of areas without reliable internet connectivity have cell phone connectivity.  

So, I guess my starting point is to not think about a MOOC, but think about audience, content, and connectivity and design from what you're trying to accomplish first, then find the best tool to do that.

An asynchronous MOOC like it. I know a company in HK that has software that does this but the groups cannot converge as in a massive MOOC. email group on Outlook? :) 

My research seeks to test the participant receptiveness to my Mobile Device Based Learning Environment (MDBLE) design. When I started my PhD, I anticipated the improvement and global expansion of WiFi networks. With Facebook, Google and others preparing for massive WiFi delivery, I see a boom in mobile learning in remote areas.

My dissertation research site is: https://gitshed.com

I am using Basic Guitar Instruction to test the learning environment design.

Also, I am developing a Non-Profit MDBLE Research Group. The site is under construction, but is based on my research: http://mdble.com

I invite mobile learning researchers to join me in the Non-Profit MDBLE Research Group, and anyone that is interested in learning Basic Guitar, or anyone that plays guitar and wants to support the learning community to join me.

Great long way from Hull UK to play guitar with you guys:) 

Just for the record, here is our solution to the stated problem. Was accepted to ICTD 2017

Conference Paper GraaspBox: Enabling Mobile Knowledge Delivery into Underconn...

Dear Andrii: Thank you. Please have a look and you can join if you find it interesting to your work: https://www.meetup.com/SMILE-Sunday-Meetups-4-Innovative-Learning-Expeditions/events/233141066/?_cookie-check=LzdO_iCbgyOjusi3

and some details on "WhatsApp Open Online Courses" can be seen here: https://eklavyaparv.com/tags/whatsapp-for-education

https://eklavyaparv.com/tags/whatsapp-for-education

https://www.meetup.com/SMILE-Sunday-Meetups-4-Innovative-Learning-Expeditions/events/233141066/?_cookie-check=LzdO_iCbgyOjusi3

following

Hi!

Here is an intervention study on use of MOOCs for untraditional students at learning centers in sparsely populated areas in Northern Sweden. i have with good results used this way of working several times, with good results.

Article Using MOOCs at Learning Centers in Northern Sweden