Friday, May 31, 2013
Universities bolster MOOCs for online learning
Coursera offers an array of free, non-credit, college-level courses online
Millions of people worldwide have signed up for these massive, open online courses
Involvement of entire state university systems may show a new level of acceptance of MOOCs
Public universities and systems in nine states say they'll join a push to greatly expand and improve online learning.
Coursera, a Silicon Valley-based company, is announcing today that it will partner with university systems in Colorado, Georgia, New York, Tennessee and Texas to develop and evaluate the potential of technology that is fueling dramatic changes in how higher education is designed and delivered. Partnerships with several state flagship universities also are being announced, bringing to more than 70 the number of schools or systems working with the company.
Coursera is one of a handful of young companies or non-profit groups that offer an array of free, non-credit, college-level courses to anyone who has an Internet connection and a desire to learn.
Millions of people worldwide have signed up for these massive, open online courses — known as MOOCs. Their key features include short videos and interactive quizzes that provide instant feedback. Some educators worry that colleges and universities are rushing to adopt such technology without considering concerns about quality and impact. Read the full article here at USAToday link
