Who are MOOCs most likely to help?

Free online education programs designed to make education more democratic might actually work only for the elite, reports The Atlantic.

If you’ve become a true believer in the power of massive open online courses (MOOCs) and other “disruptive” web-based programs to break the cost spiral of higher education, you should read an analysis by Scott Carlson and Goldie Blumenstyk titled, “For Whom Is College Being Reinvented?”

They’re not against MOOCs, certificates, and other alternatives to conventional schools for students with solid secondary backgrounds. But they make the excellent point that these appeal most to the families that need them least and are best able to sort out the high-quality programs from the dubious ones…

To read the full story, click here.

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eCampus News Staff

eSchool Media staff cover education technology in all its aspects–from legislation and litigation, to best practices, to lessons learned and new products. First published in March of 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information necessary to help K-20 decision-makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and colleges and achieve their educational goals.

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