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There are plenty of free in-person classes in the world (I'm sure you can sign up for a dance class, for example), and an in-person class that had a 5% completi

There are plenty of free in-person classes in the world (I'm sure you can sign up for a dance class, for example), and an in-person class that had a 5% completion rate would be a disaster. I'm not sure what you're arguing. You think people are learning well from MOOCs in their current form? You might note Thrun's own thoughts on the subject: http://www.fastcompany.com/3021473/udacity-sebastian-thrun-uphill-climb http://www.fastcompany.com/3021473/udacity-sebastian-thrun-u... "We were on the front pages of newspapers and magazines, and at the same time, I was realizing, we don't educate people as others wished, or as I wished. We have a lousy product,"

sillysaurus3 12y ago
You think people are learning well from MOOCs in their current form? Yes. I am, for example. Online classes aren't physical classes. Physical classes don't have 5% retention rates because people have to show up for them, so they're more likely to go next time. Being in a group makes people want to continue being in it. But with online classes, there's no such hook, and so people skip out. Also, it seems mistaken for stats on retention rates to include everyone who originally signed up. They should measure the retention rate for people who made it halfway through the course. I'd bet that they'll see a much higher rate, because if someone hasn't left halfway through the course, they're unlikely to leave just because they suddenly feel like it. And if that's true, then it's evidence that people in that situation take MOOCs as seriously as their normal classes.
- ericd 12y ago
  Yeah, the one I completed, I was completely locked in by ~halfway through, due to the already-invested time.