MIT To Expand Online Learning and Offer Certificates 96
mikejuk writes "MIT has announced an online learning initiative that will offer its courses through a new interactive learning platform that will enable students to participate in simulated labs, interact with professors and other students and earn certificates. Is this just a reaction to the Stanford experiment in running courses complete with exams and informal statements of accomplishment? (The first AI course has just finished and the exam results are in.) If so let's hope it spurs other educational establishments to do the same!"
Somewhat misquoted (Score:5, Informative)
Somewhat misquoted
MIT ... will enable students to ... earn certificates.
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/mitx-faq-1219 [mit.edu]
Rather, MIT plans to create a not-for-profit body within the Institute that will offer certification for online learners of MIT coursework. That body will carry a distinct name to avoid confusion.
So you'll get a cert from "Internet-U" stating you watched a video.
BTW the OCW calculus video series rocks as a refresher course. HIGHLY recommended. I wish they had video for more than just their 100 level intro courses.
Re:Somewhat misquoted (Score:2, Informative)
Do the MIT courses have any testing or homework? I just completed the Standford ML class, and it was about as much work as a standard college course. I would imagine that a tested class would carry more weight than a certificate stating that you pressed play on n videos.
As far as I can tell there's no info yet because it's all in the idea phase. The FAQ says they haven't even built anything. But I have to imagine they are watching the Stanford classes closely -- perhaps even quietly participating in them -- and that they will turn out similar.
Welcome to the 1980s, MIT! (Score:4, Informative)
MIT has discovered distance higher education learning? Welcome to 1969! Over here in the UK we've had high quality university level distance education since then [wikipedia.org] and distance learning offered online since the 1980s [wikipedia.org]. Currently it has over 200,000 distance learning students, many of whom use online environments as part of their learning. Perhaps though the concept of distance learning is not as advanced in the USA as in Europe?
Can any US folks comment? what is the perception of distance and online learning in the US? Over here in the UK, and I believe Europe generally, the idea of doing an online degree is considered a valid method for people to undertake higher education if they cannot get to a university campus (work, family commitments, etc). The Open University is considered to be a high quality degree offering institution and regularly comes high in student satisfaction ratings. This institution offers different media for taking courses, but some of them are offered completely online and have done for some years. I"m suprised that "university offers online teaching' makes news.
Curious - though I suppose it is newsworthy as MIT is such an august educational establishment. Interested to hear a US perspective on how distance and online higher education learning is perceived...
Comment removed (Score:4, Informative)