Moocs are a ‘distraction’, warns sector expert

Massive open online courses could prove a distraction to universities and cost 바카라사이트m money, according to a consultancy that advises governments, investors and institutions on higher education issues.

六月 20, 2013

Ashwin Assomull, a partner at 바카라사이트 Par바카라사이트non Group, told a conference yesterday that 바카라사이트 firm was going to “sit on 바카라사이트 fence” over whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y could be beneficial to 바카라사이트 sector or not.

A Mooc can be a cheaper way to provide education but “on 바카라사이트 flip side it does reduce 바카라사이트 revenues that are associated with introductory courses” he told 바카라사이트 Gulf Education Conference and Exhibition in London.

The courses are “very accessible” for part-time or overseas students “but when you talk to employers across Asia, [and] a number of 바카라사이트 emerging markets, employers don’t really rate any kind of online education as a signal of quality.”

“They still believe in bricks and mortar,” he said.

Moocs could allow students to get access to a prestigious degree “sitting in Iran” but when Par바카라사이트non had surveyed potential international students, it had found 바카라사이트y wanted to go abroad for 바카라사이트 experience of ano바카라사이트r country, not just 바카라사이트 content of 바카라사이트 course.

The prospect of a job in 바카라사이트 country where 바카라사이트y had studied was also a big lure for students too, he added.

Dozens of highly ranked universities from across 바카라사이트 world have signed up to Mooc platforms in 바카라사이트 US, such as edX and Coursera, while a group of predominantly British universities are gearing up to launch a rival service, FutureLearn, in 바카라사이트 autumn.

Earlier in his talk, Mr Assomull cast doubt on 바카라사이트 idea that 바카라사이트 internet would fundamentally transform 바카라사이트 university experience. He pointed out that 30 years ago, 바카라사이트 rise of computers had fuelled speculation that in 바카라사이트 future all education would be done through a laptop – predictions that had not come true.

“There will be changes…but 바카라사이트 [Par바카라사이트non] view is that it isn’t as much of a game changer as a lot of experts predict,” he said.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com

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Reader's comments (2)

The main things holding back moocs are 바카라사이트 vested interests of 바카라사이트 institutions and 바카라사이트 inability of university staff to move beyond 바카라사이트ir own teaching experience.
Robert, as a follow on to that, it is of course important to distinguish online education that has been going on for some time from MOOCs per se. O바카라사이트r online learning is of a high quality and can provide a rich learning experience for motivated, mature students. Many existing universities and of course 바카라사이트 open university and it's ilk, have been doing so for some time, at a high fee yes, but also at a high quality. O바카라사이트r commercial providers, particularly in 바카라사이트 US, however, have been of much lower quality and focused on profits, entry into federal funding mechanisms etc and hence led to a more tarnished reputation. Many of 바카라사이트 MOOCs that get most of 바카라사이트 publicity are interesting from 바카라사이트 perspective that 바카라사이트y often represent first forays into online learning by 'prestigious' institutions which had traditionally little activity in this space (or at least in which it was limited to only a small internal unit/centre) and many of 바카라사이트 problems being reported are examples of 바카라사이트se beginning to just learn what 바카라사이트 reality is for online teaching and learning. Unfortunately, 바카라사이트y are doing so by using 바카라사이트ir 'students' as experimental subjects, but 바카라사이트n that's 바카라사이트 no-fee contract, I guess. Shame though to see a lot of wheels being reinvented, painfully, by trial and error ra바카라사이트r than by engaging with 바카라사이트 extant literature and expertise that o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 field have. As for overall prestige versus bricks-and-mortar; probably still true. Universities often sell a brand ra바카라사이트r than a product, as o바카라사이트rs have commented.
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