E-learning platforms have become a usual means of maintaining the possibility of holding classes for many schools and universities around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the e-learning platforms have existed before the pandemic crisis: mass online courses (MOOCs), such as those on Coursera, FutureLearn and edX, have appeared and have attracted the interest of many users, from both the academia and outside it. For online classes in universities, platforms such as Google Classroom, Zoom, Webex and Microsoft Teams have been used. Geert Hofstede's theory of cultural dimensions will be taken into account and see if it can apply to the preferences of various cultures for one platform or another, for both teaching and research purposes. The platforms can be used for online classes, but also for various other extra-curricular activities, workshops, or for research purposes (such as conferences and workshops). Function of whether the classes are held synchronously (in real time, communicating live with the students as in the real, face-to-face classroom), or asynchronously (with the students having access to the materials, but not having to interact with the teacher and with the other students), other cultural distinctions could be drawn, function of preferences for interaction during classes.

communication, interaction, Coursera, Webex, Microsoft Teams, FutureLearn, edX