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Massive Open Online Education for Environmental Activism: The Worldwide Problem of Marine Litter

Author

Listed:
  • Bernardo Tabuenca

    (Information Systems Department, Technical University of Madrid, Calle de Alan Turing sn, Madrid 28001, Spain)

  • Marco Kalz

    (Institute for Arts, Music and Media, Heidelberg University of Education, Im Neuenheimer Feld 56, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
    Faculty of Management, Science and Technology, Open University of The Netherlands, Valkenburgerweg 177, Heerlen 6419, The Netherlands)

  • Ansje Löhr

    (Faculty of Management, Science and Technology, Open University of The Netherlands, Valkenburgerweg 177, Heerlen 6419, The Netherlands)

Abstract

(1) The amount of plastic discharges in the environment has drastically increased in the last decades negatively affecting aquatic ecosystems, societies, and the world economy. The policies initiated to deal with this problem are insufficient and there is an urgency to initiate local actions based on a deep understanding of the factors involved. (2) This paper investigates the potential of massive open online courses (MOOCs) to spread environmental education. Therefore, the conclusions drawn from the implementation of a MOOC to combat the problem of marine litter in the world are presented. (3) This work describes the activity of 3632 participants from 64 countries taking an active role presenting useful tools, connecting them with the main world associations, and defining applied action plans in their local area. Pre- and post-questionnaires explore behavioral changes regarding the actions of participants to combat marine litter. The role of MOOCs is contrasted with social media, formal education, and informal education. (4) Findings suggest that MOOCs are useful instruments to promote environmental activism, and to develop local solutions to global problems, for example, clean beaches, supplanting plastic bottles, educational initiatives, and prohibition of single-use plastic.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernardo Tabuenca & Marco Kalz & Ansje Löhr, 2019. "Massive Open Online Education for Environmental Activism: The Worldwide Problem of Marine Litter," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:10:p:2860-:d:232664
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Inge de Waard & Apostolos Koutropoulos & Rebecca J. Hogue & Sean C. Abajian & Nilgün Özdamar Keskin & C. Osvaldo Rodriguez & Michael Sean Gallagher, 2012. "Merging MOOC and mLearning for Increased Learner Interactions," International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning (IJMBL), IGI Global, vol. 4(4), pages 34-46, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Luca Piero Vecchio & Alexia Del Greco, 2023. "Game-Based Solutions and the Plastic Problem: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-33, March.
    2. Samuel Abalansa & Badr El Mahrad & Godwin Kofi Vondolia & John Icely & Alice Newton, 2020. "The Marine Plastic Litter Issue: A Social-Economic Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-27, October.
    3. Maria Carla de Francesco & Maria Laura Carranza & Marco Varricchione & Francesco Pio Tozzi & Angela Stanisci, 2019. "Natural Protected Areas as Special Sentinels of Littering on Coastal Dune Vegetation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Antonia Lozano-Díaz & Juan S. Fernández-Prados, 2020. "Educating Digital Citizens: An Opportunity to Critical and Activist Perspective of Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Mirko Di Febbraro & Ludovico Frate & Maria Carla de Francesco & Angela Stanisci & Francesco Pio Tozzi & Marco Varricchione & Maria Laura Carranza, 2021. "Modelling Beach Litter Accumulation on Mediterranean Coastal Landscapes: An Integrative Framework Using Species Distribution Models," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, January.

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