3 ms·

I like MOOCs, but I am using them as continuing education while working, not as a replacement for college. For that purpose, it works quite well [1]. However, o

I like MOOCs, but I am using them as continuing education while working, not as a replacement for college. For that purpose, it works quite well [1]. However, one problem is when you study a subject and get a bit stuck (currently taking Pricing Options [2], and there are a few tricky parts so far). Ideally I would like to ask questions and based on the answers continue to ask questions until I understand. As it is now, it is pretty painful to try to use the forums, and maybe get an answer. In person (or live video) with a professor or TA would help a lot. But of course that doesn't scale well. Also, the fact that the completion rate for MOOCs is very low doesn't mean much. It is free to sign up, so many (including me) sign up only to check out a course, or to just watch the lectures. [1] http://henrikwarne.com/2012/05/08/coursera-algorithms-course/ http://henrikwarne.com/2012/05/08/coursera-algorithms-course... [2] https://www.edx.org/course/v2/pricing-options-mathematical-models-caltechx-bem1105x https://www.edx.org/course/v2/pricing-options-mathematical-m...

tom_z 12y ago
Henrik_w, those are some good points. The potential of MOOCs to deliver low cost education has been hurt somewhat by poor design choices. Classes have been simply "scaled up" by professors without much change to their structure. Without physical classroom interactions, learning online is much more difficult and needs a a collaborative support community to aid that process. A few friends of mine from high school and I build a company called StudyCloud that plays in the space. To solve the issue of lackluster collaboration and low retention, our product builds a social community for each individual course, having other students and teachers there for support and encouragement. These individual social communities are integrated together for the student into a complete course overview. This allows a student to keep track of all their classes, seeing easily how well they're progressing at a moment's notice. This at-a-glance functionality is coupled with extensive notifications that help bring students back to the platform regularly to engage with one another more frequently than might typically occur. We've been working on StudyCloud for over a year now, with most of our growth in the Midwest. We are working with a few universities on hybrid course design to further improve not only the product but best practices for teachers. I would be happy to share more if you interested. www.mystudycloud.com
- redfalcon6 12y ago
  Very interesting. I have been on a kick recently on how to really attack the college market with a different offering, and had thought of some of these same points. (Which you are executing on! Well done!) My concept was to try to create a study abroad program, which combined a concentrated "learning community," along with some MOOCs, and on-site tutors/navigators. I think you could run this at a RADICALLY different price point than most colleges, and therefore nip at the edges of the market. Basically take a semester or two share from traditional colleges. Of course, the challenge is in accrediting and ensuring credits would transfer back to the college. But it just seems when colleges are charging $40k / year tuition that there is some room to attack this on the edges. And the college students then get the benefit of a fun study abroad which would be even cheaper than home....

tom_z 12y ago

Henrik_w, those are some good points. The potential of MOOCs to deliver low cost education has been hurt somewhat by poor design choices. Classes have been simply "scaled up" by professors without much change to their structure. Without physical classroom interactions, learning online is much more difficult and needs a a collaborative support community to aid that process. A few friends of mine from high school and I build a company called StudyCloud that plays in the space. To solve the issue of lackluster collaboration and low retention, our product builds a social community for each individual course, having other students and teachers there for support and encouragement. These individual social communities are integrated together for the student into a complete course overview. This allows a student to keep track of all their classes, seeing easily how well they're progressing at a moment's notice. This at-a-glance functionality is coupled with extensive notifications that help bring students back to the platform regularly to engage with one another more frequently than might typically occur. We've been working on StudyCloud for over a year now, with most of our growth in the Midwest. We are working with a few universities on hybrid course design to further improve not only the product but best practices for teachers. I would be happy to share more if you interested. www.mystudycloud.com

redfalcon6 12y ago
Very interesting. I have been on a kick recently on how to really attack the college market with a different offering, and had thought of some of these same points. (Which you are executing on! Well done!) My concept was to try to create a study abroad program, which combined a concentrated "learning community," along with some MOOCs, and on-site tutors/navigators. I think you could run this at a RADICALLY different price point than most colleges, and therefore nip at the edges of the market. Basically take a semester or two share from traditional colleges. Of course, the challenge is in accrediting and ensuring credits would transfer back to the college. But it just seems when colleges are charging $40k / year tuition that there is some room to attack this on the edges. And the college students then get the benefit of a fun study abroad which would be even cheaper than home....