In 2011, 450,000 students signed up for three online computer science classes that Stanford University offered at no cost (Vardi, 2012). Shortly afterwards, it became a talked about topic in higher education (Billsberry, 2013). The popularity of MOOCs (massive open online courses) has kept growing ever since (Vardi, 2012). The amount of knowledge that is now being shared with MOOCs in unprecedented (Billsberry, 2013). Prestigious colleges such as MIT, Harvard, and Stanford have partnered with course delivery companies such as Coursera, edX, and Udacity to provide MOOCs of the same courses that their paying, degree-students take on campus (O’Conner, 2014). The vision is to offer high quality education to everyone (O’Conner, 2014).
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MOOC’s could create that change. A turning point has come since the cost of technology has dropped, access to reliable internet is readily available, and the convenience of online courses cannot be compared to the traditional brick and mortar model (Mazoue, 2013). This generation of teenagers entering college has grown-up having all their social interaction online (Harden, 2012). The internet has opened information sharing globally. Just like it has changed the business for stock traders, it has also changed the face of education (Harden, 2012). Higher education institutions found themselves in a tough spot during the recession (Vardi, 2012). Private and public education took big hits in funding and student loan debt is over one-trillion dollars (Vardi, 2012). The average debt for students is at approximately twenty-three thousand dollars (Harden, 2012). The job market also makes it difficult for students to get jobs and pay back these loans, so there could be rapidly increasing default rates (Vardi, 2012). All of these circumstances create doubt over the value of a degree and push towards reduced cost options for higher education (Vardi, …show more content…
Some fear that due to its impersonal atmosphere, students that require more mentoring, would fail in an independent setting such as that of a MOOC (Graham, 2012). Recruitment and retention will still be a concern for colleges (O’Conner, 2014). Online education has blossomed at many elite universities which are selective as to who they accept (Graham, 2012). These students are self-motivated and ambitious. Students that are average could struggle in an environment that provides little mentoring and lots of independence (Graham, 2012). If the traditional colleges go the way of strictly MOOCs, these students could fail and be left behind without the personal attention (Graham, 2012). Higher education reform is taking place in order to prepare for online learning with many hybrid programs currently in place (O’Conner, 2014). Many colleges are currently experimenting with online courses and carefully looking at the success rates and learning outcomes (O’Conner, 2014). Colleges are looking carefully at curriculum in order to implement chances that can be applied and scalable in an online learning environment (O’Conner, 2014). The next step of converting to a MOOC delivery system will already be in place due to the current course development changes and it will lead to a seamless transition (O’Conner, 2014). Since courses are recorded and replayed, there will be less of a need for professors and students on a global scale will be
From …show more content…
MOOC’s could create that change. A turning point has come since the cost of technology has dropped, access to reliable internet is readily available, and the convenience of online courses cannot be compared to the traditional brick and mortar model (Mazoue, 2013). This generation of teenagers entering college has grown-up having all their social interaction online (Harden, 2012). The internet has opened information sharing globally. Just like it has changed the business for stock traders, it has also changed the face of education (Harden, 2012). Higher education institutions found themselves in a tough spot during the recession (Vardi, 2012). Private and public education took big hits in funding and student loan debt is over one-trillion dollars (Vardi, 2012). The average debt for students is at approximately twenty-three thousand dollars (Harden, 2012). The job market also makes it difficult for students to get jobs and pay back these loans, so there could be rapidly increasing default rates (Vardi, 2012). All of these circumstances create doubt over the value of a degree and push towards reduced cost options for higher education (Vardi, …show more content…
Some fear that due to its impersonal atmosphere, students that require more mentoring, would fail in an independent setting such as that of a MOOC (Graham, 2012). Recruitment and retention will still be a concern for colleges (O’Conner, 2014). Online education has blossomed at many elite universities which are selective as to who they accept (Graham, 2012). These students are self-motivated and ambitious. Students that are average could struggle in an environment that provides little mentoring and lots of independence (Graham, 2012). If the traditional colleges go the way of strictly MOOCs, these students could fail and be left behind without the personal attention (Graham, 2012). Higher education reform is taking place in order to prepare for online learning with many hybrid programs currently in place (O’Conner, 2014). Many colleges are currently experimenting with online courses and carefully looking at the success rates and learning outcomes (O’Conner, 2014). Colleges are looking carefully at curriculum in order to implement chances that can be applied and scalable in an online learning environment (O’Conner, 2014). The next step of converting to a MOOC delivery system will already be in place due to the current course development changes and it will lead to a seamless transition (O’Conner, 2014). Since courses are recorded and replayed, there will be less of a need for professors and students on a global scale will be