The MOOC ecosystemMassive Open Online Course

23.04.2014

MOOCs, or massive open online courses, went mainstream last year, heralded as the next great technological disruption in education. The big idea is that putting lecture videos and interactive course work on the Web will make it possible for top-notch university education to reach more students and allow for different styles of learning.

Already, MOOCs have shown they can attract students in huge numbers. The largest provider, Coursera, has drawn five million, and nonprofit provider edX more than 1.3 million. And while the majority are still based in the U.S.,

their learners come from all over the globe: Among edX's students, 9% came from Africa and 12% from India.

Big-name schools have also signed on to the idea. Top institutions—from Harvard University to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to Stanford University—and some companies have joined with MOOC providers to put courses online, free to anyone who wants to access them. Now more schools, to expand their student base and potentially reduce the cost of an education, are building online courses that cost money but offer actual college credit.

There are 3 best MOOC sites in my book. They are:

1. EdXEdX courses are designed to be interesting, fun and rigorous. They are the best courses, from the best professors and the best schools, spanning dozens of subjects. Orgininally founded by Harvard and MIT, EdX now offers courses from 29 of the top schools around the world. Start studying with EdX and have fun today! 

2. SaylorSince its founding in 2008, Saylor.org strives to provide quality education for free for everyone around the world. The Saylor team hires credentialed professors to create course blueprints and to locate, vet, and organize OER materials into a structured and intuitive format. Their consulting professors also create original OER content and link to freely posted materials to fill in any gaps. Each course culminates with a final exam, and students receiving a passing grade can download a certificate of completion. Start learning and earn your certificate today!

3. CourseraWith 535 courses and 107 global university partners, Coursera provides you a global education right at the click of your mouse. If you would like to go a step further, sign up for the Signature Track for a fee to earn official recognition from universities and Coursera with a verifiable electronic certificate. What's more, there is also a free re-attempt for the Signature Track! If you're unable to complete the course, you can request a coupon good for the next Signature Track offering of the same course.

Personalized Learning for AllKnewton envisions a world where all students can reach their full potential.

Knewton is an education technology company that personalizes digital courses so every student is engaged and no one slips through the cracks.

As students progress through a Knewton-powered course, Knewton figures out what each student knows and how that student learns best, then recommends what to study next. Teachers use Knewton-powered predictive analytics to detect gaps in knowledge and differentiate instruction for each student.

THE KNEWTON ADAPTIVE LEARNING INFRASTRUCTURE

Knewton provides an infrastructure platform that allows others to build powerful proficiency-based adaptive learning applications. All sorts of companies — from the world’s largest publishers to technology startups to digital learning platforms — use Knewton to provide personalization to individuals.

With Knewton, partners can create adaptive experiences for any type of content, in nearly any subject matter, for every student. Knewton analyzes which lessons resonate best, for who, and why, enabling publishers and other partners to evaluate

content efficacy and create the most effective learning materials and assessments possible.

KNEWTON IN THE CLASSROOM

Teachers have long understood the importance of differentiated instruction. No two students come from exactly the same background or learn exactly the same way. With Knewton-powered adaptive learning products, an entire class of students can work through material in a sequence and pace customized for them. Teachers can use analytics within Knewton-powered learning products to monitor performance and reduce administrative work, giving them more time to do what they do best — teach and inspire students.

My remote classroom: online students share their photos

This picture was not taken for the purpose of this article. It was taken last summer, while I was getting ready for a(nother) essay. A friend of mine could not believe her eyes when she came to pick me up and took this picture.

'I have started my journey towards my BSc psychology degree with the Open University in 2011. It is not easy, children, a job and course books always on my mind. I am not going to be shy about this: independent learners have to be committed, prepared to sacrifice part of their social life and hard workers, to study at the most improbable hours in the most improbable places; it can be draining at times, exhausting more often than not. 'All going well, I'll claim my degree at the end of 2016.

'I am currently studying towards a BSc in combined social sciences. I study online so I am able to travel the world at the same time. Every desk is different, here I am attempting to study in a bumpy overland truck while driving through Africa.'

'This is my compound and classroom in the middle of the desert. I am currently studying online for a MSc in project management oil and gas at the University of Liverpool (UoL). This turns my private space into an oasis. Although I am a rotator, I can study my modules anywhere. The online library of UoL supports me wherever I go. The only requisite is a reliable connection to internet.'

'I am currently studying through the University of Liverpool Online program pursuing a MSc in applied psychology, mental health. I am from Jamaica, but I currently reside in Japan. I am in my second year and expect to complete my studies by February 2015. During winter, I change my study area from a regular study desk to using my kotatsu (Japanese table) to keep myself warm while studying. It is quite ideal for me at this time of the year. I do not have a family here so there is not much interference when I need to get my studies done. I do spend time with friends when there is a break in studies. This program fits quite well in my profession as a teacher because I am able to apply some of the techniques learned so far. I hope to gain more practical experiences and apply them in my daily work life and to also use this platform to move closer to my ultimate dream – a health/family therapist.'