Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have quickly become one of the most polarizing developments in higher education. Many in higher ed see these MOOCs as innovations that could mark the turning point in how education is delivered, while others see MOOCs as a distraction, a phase, and a means for diluting a college degree. Whatever your feelings on these massive classes, the developments in how they’re created, delivered, and received have come at a furious pace over the past few months, and we’ve compiled our most pertinent MOOC coverage right here, all in once place.
Has Coursera solved the catch-22 of for-credit MOOCs?
It’s the catch-22 of massive open online courses (MOOCs). Students want college credit for MOOCs, which would raise the price tag of the often-free courses.
MOOC students to be identified with webcams
When the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and edX roll out new MOOC completion certificates to accompany more involved and time consuming courses next fall, they want to make sure students who are receiving certificates are the ones who did all the work – and they’re looking toward webcams to make this happen.
A MOOC that will ‘cut across institutional boundaries’
Many colleges have delved into MOOCs, while others have approach the massive courses with caution. Either way, however, MOOC implementation has been isolated to a single school working with a MOOC platform.
‘Walking Dead,’ comic books inspire MOOCs
The University of California (UC) at Irvine is collaborating with AMC to produce a free online course called “Society, Science, Survival: Lessons from AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead,’” and it will be offered on Instructure’s MOOC platform, Canvas Network.
How MOOCs are evolving with video technology
Video is critical, not only because it distinguishes MOOCs from earlier text-heavy open courseware initiatives, but also because the video lecture is the medium that allows MOOCs to bring a high fidelity in-class experience to massive audiences online.
Has President Obama caught MOOC fever?
President Obama, in outlining his new education plan this week, didn’t utter the phrase “massive open online courses” or its handy acronym, but one could think otherwise, looking at the news articles, blog posts and tweets declaring that Obama has caught “MOOC fever.”
University of Maryland University College to offer credit for MOOCs
University of Maryland University College (UMUC) believes it will be the first university in the Maryland system to let students earn academic credit for taking a massive open online course (MOOC).
Coding course finds ‘sweet spot’ between MOOCs and colleges
People wanting to learn how to code have no shortage of options. There are college courses, companies like Codecademy and massive open online courses (MOOCs).
The rise of ‘SuperPosters’ in MOOCs
Participation has been an issue for massive open online course (MOOC) platforms as they face criticism from many corners of higher education, though there is one kind of MOOC participant that can serve as an example of an engaged student: the “SuperPoster.”
New MOOC gives away Warren Buffett’s sister’s money
Billionaire Warren Buffett and his sister Doris have been gradually donating their riches to various causes and projects over the years. In fact, Doris Buffett hopes to redistribute all of her wealth before she dies, and has already given away more than $150 million of it.
MOOC platform Coursera raises $43 million in funding
A growing backlash and simmering resentment among some faculty toward massive open online courses (MOOCs), coupled with low retention rates, means the technology’s future, and its ability to change higher education, is not yet certain.