Online education has evolved . . . I think?

College may never be the same

 

evolved...you think?

I see some value in Massive Open Online Courses –MOOCs. I can see some for continuing education - like for renewing a license with continuing ed requirements. I also think they could be good for CLEP/DSST/GRE/etc. exam preparation. They could even be used for refresher courses if going back after a lapse.

Knowledge is a good thing even without credentials, but some organizations like Saylor are now partnering to provide a path to legit credits. Will others eventually provide a path to credentials?

Not too sure where the Ivy’s and other biggies are going with this.

 

I think the MOOC movement is being hyped way more than the evidence warrants.

It's not really this massive expansion of access to top universities. These MOOCs do not bear college credit, and even backdoor ways to credit aren't truly equivalent to credits earned at the universities offering the MOOCs. I don't foresee elite universities offering MOOCs for credit EXCEPT possibly in non-degree programs similar to the certificates at Harvard Extension (which do not confer alumni status). Doing so would dilute their brands.