A Care-Centered Approach to Online Learning Design and Pedagogy

Authors

  • Heather Robinson University of North Texas
  • Whitney Kilgore University of North Texas
  • Maha Al-Freih Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3767-8635

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18357/otessac.2021.1.1.60

Keywords:

care theory, online learning

Abstract

Researchers in the field of online learning have raised concerns over its lack of focus on the affective/emotional aspect of the online learning experience, despite a strong research base indicating the important role that emotions play in successful and effective learning (Ch’ng, 2019). Utilizing a phenomenological methodological approach, the researchers interviewed online students and coded transcripts based on Noddings’ Ethics of Care Framework (1984) to explore the phenomenon of care in online learning in an effort to bridge this gap and deepen our understanding of the feeling of caring and being cared-for. These findings add to the literature on the role of emotions in online learning as viewed through the lens of care-theory. The findings highlight course design issues and instructor behaviors that promote a climate of care in an online environment from a learner perspective. These findings may be of benefit to inform future teacher preparation programs.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2021-12-31

Issue

Section

Research-Oriented Proceedings