What can educators do to better accommodate culturally diverse learners in online learning communities?

摘要

Convenience and access are some of the key drivers in this movement towards the virtual classroom. Learners can complete course work at times and in locations that are convenient for them. This ability to participate in virtual classes from almost anywhere in the world also brings a whole new dynamic into the learning environment. Learners from different regions of Canada, and those from all over the world, bring different perspectives and worldviews, different cultural norms, and different understandings of language and communication. In light of these significant developments in the field of communication technologies and distance education, and by the personal impact these new technologies have had on my own learning experience, I have investigated the following question: "What can educators do to better accommodate culturally diverse learners in online learning communities?" (Abstract shortened by UMI.)