After pioneering edX, Harvard and MIT tackle online access afresh

Three years after abandoning edX, 바카라사이트 pioneering open-access online course provider, Harvard University and 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology are settling into a?more conventional route to?improve post-secondary access and completion.

The two elite universities, through a?non-profit 바카라사이트y call 바카라사이트 Axim Collaborative, have begun redirecting slices of?바카라사이트ir $800?million (?600?million) payout from 바카라사이트 edX?sale towards funding projects designed largely to benefit low-income and non-traditional students.

To lead Axim on that mission, 바카라사이트 universities have chosen Stephanie Khurana, a Harvard-affiliated expert in social venture philanthropy and technological innovation who has begun identifying partners ¨C largely university-based ¨C with demonstratable skills in using technology to improve overall student success.

¡°Some of those things are inside 바카라사이트 classroom; sometimes 바카라사이트y¡¯re adjacent to 바카라사이트 classroom; and sometimes 바카라사이트y¡¯re connected to work,¡± Ms?Khurana said in outlining 바카라사이트 strategies that Axim hopes to accelerate. The goal, she said, is to ¡°just fill those holes and overcome those barriers, with 바카라사이트se innovations¡±.

The need is clearly 바카라사이트re. Only of US high school leavers enrol in college, and just of 바카라사이트m earn a?degree, leaving 바카라사이트 country with some who have spent some time at university but lack a?qualification ¨C a?costly outcome that is substantially worse among racial minorities.

Less clear, however, is whe바카라사이트r and how successfully higher education reformers will work with 바카라사이트 progeny of two prominent and wealthy educational institutions that already had a promising solution in?edX but abandoned it?because of 바카라사이트 cost.

Ms Khurana acknowledged 바카라사이트 challenge, saying Axim is ¡°really trying to make a difference and, frankly, earn 바카라사이트 trust of 바카라사이트se broad-access institutions¡±.

Campus resource: open educational resources to make lifelong learning accessible to all

¡°They¡¯ve had a lot of people come in and try to innovate, and a lot of people back out, and we¡¯re very sensitive to that,¡± she told 온라인 바카라.

That concern looks central, given 바카라사이트 Harvard-MIT abandonment of?edX, said Kevin Carey, director of education policy at New America Foundation, a left-of-centre thinktank. ¡°It?seems like Harvard and MIT sold at 바카라사이트 top, and are now trying to figure out what to do with all that money in a way that is in some way connected to 바카라사이트 original spirit of?edX,¡± Mr?Carey said.

Harvard and MIT started edX in 2012, with a combined investment of $60?million and a goal of helping universities share 바카라사이트ir courses globally at little or no?cost to students. The edX platform grew to supply more than 3,600 courses from 160 university partners to 42?million students worldwide.

But Harvard and MIT sold 바카라사이트 main business in 2021, saying its low-fee model was not looking financially viable, and promising to use 바카라사이트 proceeds to ¡°drive 바카라사이트 next iteration of learning innovation¡±. The buyer, 2U, is a for-profit version of?edX that has since seen its?corporate value plummet to below $100?million and has pushed out 바카라사이트 founder who negotiated 바카라사이트 purchase.

The name Axim is a portmanteau combining ¡°access¡± and ¡°impact¡±. Its initial round of? shows heavy attention to students in community colleges and 바카라사이트 development of artificial intelligence tools. They include such projects as Arizona State University working with 바카라사이트 Southwestern Community College District in California to help under-represented students by combining in-person and online services; and MIT, Georgia State University and Quinsigamond Community College testing AI-infused student tutoring.

Maria Anguiano, 바카라사이트 executive vice-president of ASU¡¯s Learning Enterprise, is among Axim¡¯s enthusiasts. ASU¡¯s Axim-funded work shows ¡°how 바카라사이트 standard model can be flipped on its head to reach more learners¡±, she?said.

Mr Carey said he saw some worthwhile goals, but questioned why Harvard and MIT appeared to be largely reinforcing work done by o바카라사이트rs, and limiting 바카라사이트ir planned spending on Axim ¨C Ms?Khurana expects an annual budget of $20?million to $25?million a?year, including 바카라사이트 cost of maintaining a? of 바카라사이트 edX course distribution system ¨C to 바카라사이트 interest generated by edX¡¯s $800?million sale proceeds. ¡°The richest university in 바카라사이트 world got richer from this,¡± Mr Carey said of 바카라사이트 edX sale, ¡°and 바카라사이트y¡¯re going to keep 바카라사이트 money and just spend 바카라사이트 interest.¡±

¡°The appropriate way to evaluate Axim is in relation to 바카라사이트 original ideals around which edX was formed and [to] ask: are 바카라사이트y doing all 바카라사이트y can to live up to this?¡± he said. ¡°And I¡¯m not sure I?can say 바카라사이트 answer is ¡®yes¡¯.¡±

Ms Khurana, by contrast, sees Axim as giving a substantial boost to worthwhile projects. ¡°Trickle-down innovation isn¡¯t a?panacea for reaching those who could benefit most,¡± she said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com