<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> This exploratory study examines emotional affordance of a massive open online course (MOOC). Postings in a discussion forum of a MOOC in computer science are analysed following a research design informed by virtual ethnography. Emotional affordance is investigated, focusing on nonachievement emotions which are not directly linked to achievement activities or outcomes. The study identifies two non-achievement emotions in the MOOC. First, altruistic emotion evolves with the collaborative learning community and possibly compensates for teachers’ minimal emotional intervention in a large, diverse class. Second, intergenerational emotional resonance is observed and this bears a key implication on managing age diversity for the future MOOCs.</p></abstract>

This exploratory study examines emotional affordance of a massive open online course (MOOC). Postings in a discussion forum of a MOOC in computer science are analysed following a research design informed by virtual ethnography. Emotional affordance is investigated, focusing on nonachievement emotions which are not directly linked to achievement activities or outcomes. The study identifies two non-achievement emotions in the MOOC. First, altruistic emotion evolves with the collaborative learning community and possibly compensates for teachers’ minimal emotional intervention in a large, diverse class. Second, intergenerational emotional resonance is observed and this bears a key implication on managing age diversity for the future MOOCs.

An Exploratory Study of Emotional Affordance of a Massive Open Online Course

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong

European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"An Exploratory Study of Emotional Affordance of a Massive Open Online Course"}

This exploratory study examines emotional affordance of a massive open online course (MOOC). Postings in a discussion forum of a MOOC in computer science are...

An Exploratory Study of Emotional Affordance of a Massive Open Online Course

Published Online: Dec 11, 2014

Page range: 43 - 55

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eurodl-2014-0003

Keywords
Emotional Affordance, MOOC, Non-achievement Emotion, Altruistic Emotion, Intergenerational Emotional Resonance

© 2014

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

An Exploratory Study of Emotional Affordance of a Massive Open Online Course

Published Online: Dec 11, 2014

Page range: 43 - 55

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eurodl-2014-0003

KeywordsEmotional Affordance, MOOC, Non-achievement Emotion, Altruistic Emotion, Intergenerational Emotional Resonance

© 2014

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Emotional Affordance, MOOC, Non-achievement Emotion, Altruistic Emotion, Intergenerational Emotional Resonance