Forging new pathways of research and innovation in open and distance learning

Supporting the Capacity Development of Canadian Entrepreneurial Mothers through an Exploration
of their Digital Learning Ecologies
Nicole Christen et al.
This study will be strengthened by a mixed methods research design. Its integrated,
multidimensional, and pragmatic nature sets it apart from the existing body of research
through the expectation that it will deliver recommendations for guidelines, strategies, and
actions regarding the development of digital learning ecologies for informal learning, that
might help other Canadian entrepreneurial mothers, and potentially other populations, with
capacity development. The expected results include the identification and description of new
conceptual dimensions pertaining to digital learning ecologies, informal learning,
entrepreneurial women, capacity development and the interrelationships among these focal
points.
There is a need for new approaches to workforce development and attention to learning that
occurs outside of traditional institutions (Facer & Sandford, 2010). The research first aims to
answer how populations facing barriers to self-actualization, such as mothers, develop digital
learning ecologies for the purpose of informal learning. Answering this provides the
foundation for the exploration of an even more important question: How do digital learning
ecologies support capacity development?
Theoretical Framework
A report by UN Women (n.d.) states that economies grow when the number of women in
paid entrepreneurship, increases. Furthermore, according to the government-assigned Expert
Panel on Championing and Mentorship for Women Entrepreneurs:
“The economic empowerment of Canada’s women is considered to be of
strategic importance to Canada’s future prosperity. With female majorityowned
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contributing an estimated
$148 billion in economic activity in 2011, helping women grow their
businesses and improve their survival rates will result in a meaningful impact
on economic development, job growth, tax revenues and international trade
for Canada.” (Dickinson, Bosela, Cross, McTasney, & Close, 2015; p.1)
Motherhood creates a barrier to self-actualization, limiting women in terms of their career
and earning potential (Goldin, 2014; Kawash, 2011; Principe & Culbert, 2014; Slaughter,
2015). The workplace of many entrepreneurial mothers is unique in that they work from
home, in a socially isolated setting, which results in the loss of social capital (Kamberidou,
2013; Valtchanov, Parry, Glover, & Mulcahy, 2014). At the same time, entrepreneurial
mothers face unique challenges as they strive to grow their business while accommodating the
demands of raising a family (Jean & Forbes, 2012). They often work fragmented hours as a
result (Jean & Forbes, 2012). The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
(UNCSW) adds that women’s unpaid care work and the fact that women shoulder the bulk of
household work limits their participation in economic activities (UN Women, n.d.). Jean and
Forbes (2012) define a mompreneur as “a woman who had at least one child at the time of
business start up and who is the owner of at least 50% of the business.”
324 Reaching from the roots – 9 th EDEN Research Workshop Proceedings, 2016, Oldenburg
ISBN 978-615-5511-12-7