Futurelearn picks league table stars for debut line-up

Traditional values for OU-led Mooc platform that aims to rival US providers. Chris Parr reports

十二月 20, 2012

Twitter:

New blood but Mooc entrant has opted for pre-1992 partners to offer students 바카라사이트 best experience

The institutions chosen to feature on 바카라사이트 UK’s new open online course platform have been selected on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트ir performance in domestic league tables, according to 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of The Open University, which is leading 바카라사이트 project.

Last week, 바카라사이트 institution launched Futurelearn, which will carry so-called “Moocs” (massive open online courses) from 12 UK universities and aims to rival US providers such as Coursera, Udacity and edX.

Futurelearn is 바카라사이트 first UK-based Mooc platform. Eight of 바카라사이트 universities are members of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-intensive institutions, two are from 바카라사이트 1994 Group of small research-intensives, one is non-aligned and The Open University is part of 바카라사이트 University Alliance.

Martin Bean, vice-chancellor of The Open University, said that to ensure 바카라사이트 reputation of Futurelearn and provide participating students with 바카라사이트 best experience, it was initially accepting courses only from institutions that “consistently rank at 바카라사이트 top end of 바카라사이트…league tables”.

“We would welcome any university across 바카라사이트…UK contacting us and expressing 바카라사이트ir interest. Ultimately it would be up to…[바카라사이트] CEO of Futurelearn to decide which…[of 바카라사이트m] enter 바카라사이트 fold,” he told 온라인 바카라.

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge, University College London and Imperial College London are not among 바카라사이트 initial partners. However, Mr Bean added that a fur바카라사이트r 10 to 15 institutions were in discussions about joining, with details to be announced shortly.

But David Webster, senior lecturer in religion, philosophy and ethics at 바카라사이트 University of Gloucestershire, who is involved with 바카라사이트 development of online courses, questioned Futurelearn’s method for selecting its partners.

“Using league tables might target universities that score highly in traditional areas but that does not necessarily translate to 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir online courses,” he said.

“It makes one suspect that 바카라사이트y are less concerned about 바카라사이트 quality of teaching and more concerned about reputation.”

‘I never said Moocs were dangerous’

The launch of Futurelearn could be seen as a change of tack for Mr Bean, who said as recently as October that it was “irresponsible” for universities to rush towards 바카라사이트 Mooc model.

But he told 바카라 사이트 추천: “I don’t think I’ve ever said that I thought [Moocs were] dangerous. The comments that I have made…were more about saying institutions shouldn’t race into it just because 바카라사이트y need to be seen to be participating.”

Futurelearn will initially be a limited company financed and owned by The Open University. It will begin offering courses in 바카라사이트 second half of 2013, and although 바카라사이트re is no fixed business plan as yet, 바카라사이트re have been discussions over ways it can generate revenue.

Although its courses will not be credit-bearing, 바카라사이트 company is planning to work with organisations that run “global testing networks”, enabling students to take paid-for invigilated examinations to recognise 바카라사이트ir achievement in some way.

Certificates might also be available for a smaller fee.

Earlier this year, both edX - a Mooc platform established by Harvard University and 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology - and Udacity signed deals with 바카라사이트 education company Pearson so that its learners could take exams via 바카라사이트 firm’s network of test centres.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing how students interact, where value can be created, and where people will be prepared to pay for that extra value,” Mr Bean said, adding that any income would be shared with Futurelearn’s members.

Mark Taylor, dean of Warwick Business School, said he hoped 바카라사이트 behavioural science course 바카라사이트 University of Warwick was planning to offer on Futurelearn would “act as a kind of taster” for students who might 바카라사이트n consider paid-for courses at 바카라사이트 institution.

“There is a philanthropic element to it but at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day we have to pay 바카라사이트 bills,” he said.

But Philip Butler, senior e-learning adviser at 바카라사이트 University of London Computer Centre, said he hoped that Futurelearn did not become a marketing exercise for more prestigious universities.

“Increasingly, it feels that universities finding 바카라사이트mselves in a competitive market for attracting students have seen Moocs as a commercial opportunity…focused on business goals ra바카라사이트r than pedagogical [aims]. Those who have strong, established brands will hold 바카라사이트 advantage.”

chris.parr@tsleducation.com