MOOCs of Top Universities

What is an MOOC? A massive open online course

“I don’t see how a MOOC can be much more than a digitized textbook.”- Joseph Harris, Duke Professor
    Are MOOCs the best or the worst thing that has happened to the education industry? Many professors love the idea that they can reach a broader audience of people, and enjoy being able to teach millions instead of only being able to impact those in your classroom. On the other hand, some professors still enjoy the traditional approach to their students and value that face-to-face interaction. Those professors are soon to be overpowered by the technological force. It is inevitable, students are beginning to automatically expect professors to have some sort of internet use intertwined into the class. Whether it’s posting grades online, posting class notes, or taking online quizzes we always expect the professor to use an internet platform to connect to the class. Professors are starting to partner with textbook companies to create screen-casts for tougher subjects, and they are encouraging their students to utilize these resources. Students embrace it, many professors embrace it, and universities embrace it openly so I’m sure we will see more MOOCs being integrated into our course selections.  

   A lot of the issues with MOOCs come from the fear that human interaction is continuing to deplete, and professors aren't able to connect with their students. Also, a fear is that they decrease productivity because students become slack on their academics causing less students to graduate. Professors and universities that are resisting this change are harping on the impact taking away the traditional classroom will have on graduation rates and overall classroom interactivity. MOOCs can aid low-income students, but is it really worth it if you possibly won't graduate? I don't think online classes (or work-from-home jobs) are for everyone and it wouldn't be fair to implement MOOCs ONLY, but I do think they are cost effective and can be convenient for some students who have already started their careers, families, etc.

Source: http://www.newrepublic.com/article/112731/moocs-will-online-education-ruin-university-experience