Eight Things You Should Know About Online College Courses
Massive open online courses are changing the face of higher education, offering both opportunities and obstacles.
By Eliana Osborn
1. What is a MOOC?
Great question! MOOC (massive open online course) is an acronym referring to a college-level course, offered to anyone, anywhere in the world, for self-directed synchronous learning. That means that the class has a start and end date so that students can participate in online discussions, most of which are moderated by some sort of teaching assistant. At this time, most of these classes are free.
2. How Do I Know the Class Details?
The course listing will tell you how long each class will last and about how much work to expect. For example, Coursera’s upcoming A Brief History of Humankind has a July start date, lasts twenty weeks, and will require two to four hours of your time each week.
3. What Are the Best MOOC Classes?
Some subjects are well-suited to the MOOC format. Think sciences in particular, where the video content of a professor teaching can be hugely enhanced by visuals that demonstrate what is being talked about. Other subjects, especially in the humanities, are a little more interactive and might work better in a face-to-face format.
4. Who Offers the Best MOOCs?
There are several big names in the MOOC market. Coursera and edX are partnered with big universities. Millions of dollars are spent to produce stellar classes with all the bells and whistles. If you've always dreamed of attending a class with a top name in your field at an Ivy League school, a MOOC might be perfect for you. Don’t expect any kind of interaction with the professor though; he may have produced the class some time ago. Most likely, there are teaching assistants monitoring discussion boards and reading your writing assignments.
5. Is There an Age Limit?
MOOCs aren’t just for adults. Larry Steinmetz, an AP English teacher at Calexico High School in California, used Coursera’s Greek and Roman mythology class as an extra credit opportunity. With so much mythological allusion in literature, this difficult MOOC was worth a full letter grade to any of his students who completed it. Only a handful did. Steinmetz took the class alongside his students and was impressed with the structure and level of thinking involved. Even if you are in your golden years, you may sign up for these enriching courses.
6. Do MOOCs Count for Continuing Education Credits?
You’ll need to talk to your specific district about their MOOC policy. There seems to be a movement toward granting college credit for MOOCs, with a fee of course, but there are a lot of variables. California community colleges are looking into it, and course providers are coming up with different ways to verify that it is really you taking the class. For now, if you are hoping to use a MOOC for anything other than personal enrichment, you’ll want to check things out before you start. Note: Coursera offers something called signature track, where for a fee, they will provide you with a verified, professional certificate of completion.
7. Are There Any Recommended Courses?
Upcoming class options include subjects of interest that you never got around to studying in college. Taking a MOOC can be a great way to keep your mind fresh and learning, especially if you are thinking of returning for an advanced degree later. Coursera is offering classes as varied as: Cryptography 1, Inquiry Science Learning, The Science of Gastronomy, Engaging Students through Cooperative Learning, and History of Rock, Part Two.
8. Are There Any Professional Benefits of MOOCs?
Aside from lifelong learning, or digging deeper into a topic you generally teach, consider using clips from a MOOC you take to enhance your own teaching. For example, if you are enrolled in a science course and see something that blows your mind, you have access to review that footage time and again—including watching it along with your students. Not only will they see your commitment to lifelong learning, but they’ll be able to benefit from another voice on the subject.
Further Information on MOOCs:
An in-depth feature covering the origins of MOOCs as well as current happenings. It explores the process of creating such a course and the opposition voices regarding education innovation.
Courses are being examined to determine which are worthy of credit. Find out what classes are most rigorous and what accreditors are saying about MOOCs in general.