The evolution of MOOCs in higher education


Major MOOC platforms have seen their funding skyrocket since 2012.

From a stopgap measure for under-served college students to a massive enterprise forming new partnerships with research and public universities alike, the role of massive open online courses (MOOCs) in higher education has undergone a massive shift over the past year — one that has drawn millions in funding while colleges grapple with out-of-control costs.

It’s difficult to overstate how much MOOCs and their providers have changed since 2012, with much of that transition drawing backlash from educators and technologists.

There were, for example, 55 MOOCs available at the start of 2012. There are now 118 MOOCs available to anyone with an internet connection. The growth of MOOCs is even more startling when you look back to 2011, when there were only 19 MOOCs offered across the world.

Nerdwallet published an infographic this week summarizing the remarkable growth of MOOCs, including a chart documenting funding for each of the biggest MOOC platforms.

(Next page: Infographic)

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