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It's relative. They've got low completion rates relative to university courses. They have completion rates right where you'd expect given a more reasonable re
by patio11 12y ago
It's relative. They've got low completion rates relative to university courses. They have completion rates right where you'd expect given a more reasonable reference class.
A MOOC is essentially an extended web interaction, not a college course. Very short web interactions which require minimal levels of work often have conversion rates in the 5~20% region. Think like "Fill out a survey" or "Make free bingo cards."
MOOCs require many hours of work, stretched over months.
Physical college courses carry a heavy precommitment to attend with gigantic costs associated with them. They also have a low completion rate in many circumstances, for example when the college hasn't already done an absolutely brutal filter based on a combination of socioeconomic status, IQ, and ability to take complex tasks to completion. MOOCs don't typically pre-filter based on those criteria, which means their completion numbers are affected in the predictable fashions.
- webhat 12y agoJust asking for a few pennies to take part would up the completion rate and reduce the frivolous sign ups.
- pnt12 12y agoI feel that would be really unnecessary and possibly harmful to the MOOCs themselves. 1 - Sign ups alone require nearly no resources from the provider. 2 - Attendance and therefore popularity could be much lower. While that could be a good thing (less people and more money -> more support to each student), it would probably never be enough to cover a course's cost. In the end, people are learning. I haven't completed any course yet (attended about 4, attending one now), but I'm thankful for them and I don't think the resources I used harmed the MOOCs.
- webhat 12y agoThe pennies are obviously not to cover the cost of the MOOC. It the sunk-cost effect, people are more likely to use or complete something they pay for.
- HolyHaddock 12y agoNot for pennies. People whoe aren't willing to exercise regularly to make use of hundred pound gym subscriptions are unlikely to finish a MOOC because of a few pennies.