Cultural Diversity in Online Learning

Abstract

This chapter explored the perceptions of minority graduate students about cultural diversity and the challenges they face in online learning environments. Thirty-five minority graduate students enrolled in online graduate programs in education in the Southeastern United States participated in the study. A qualitative research design using interviews and observations was used to collect and analyze the data. Findings revealed four themes: (1) the need to recognize and use multicultural resources for knowledge building in the online learning environment, (2) the need for more diversity inclusion in online learning, (3) collaborative learning activities as effective instructional strategy to promote cultural diversity in online environments, and (4) the lack of multicultural contents, communications, language barriers, and culturally relevant activities hinder online learning. The findings demonstrate the need for online instructors to recognize cultural differences of students and diverse cultural experiences they bring to the online learning environments.