Students at 40 different universities throughout the United States will be able to test-drive degree programs this spring, thanks to the latest MOOC project by Academic Partnerships.
The digital learning space will offer free online classes for students interested in trying out particular degrees at schools such as Arizona State, Lamar, West Florida, and University of Cincinnati.
MOOC stands for Massive Open Online Courses. The idea is to create an online space where all class information is offered for free, from textbooks and test materials to interactions with professors and students. MOOCs have been slow to catch on because they require long-term strategies and it is difficult for many for-profit education centers to see where the revenue is waiting.
Academic Partnership’s MOOC2Degree Initiative is attempting to change that, starting with more open-minded public universities. Using this free online innovation, students can pick a degree program that looks like a good fit and then take the first class in the program without actually signing up for the long haul and paying tuition. The class has the same content and instructors as the on-campus version, so students can see what the material is like, how the professors conduct their classes, and if they can make the cut when exam week comes around. If they pass, the class counts as credit when students matriculate.
The idea is essentially an experiment in experiential marketing pulled over from the commercial world, where product testing can win consumers who are not yet committed to purchase. For college, the stakes can be even higher. Students must be willing to spend thousands of dollars (at the minimum) to enter a program, and withdrawing after a few weeks can be burdensome, aggravating and still very expensive. The MOOC solution provides a way for students to test the waters – without cost – and see what is right for them before jumping in, leading to greater “customer” satisfaction and more controlled university decisions.
“While the number of online education opportunities continues to grow at an incredible pace, there are still many adults who are apprehensive about the experience and demands of learning online,” said Phil Regier, Executive Vice Provost and Dean of Arizona State University Online. “We want people to experience what a high-quality online course is really about, with all the academic rigor, interactions and opportunities we provide.
“This is a terrific way for someone who is interested in a specific subject area to try online learning, expand their knowledge base and decide if advancing their education online is right for them.”
With the higher education world fearing an implosion, moves like MOOC2Degree could open the door to a more personalized, student-friendly experience. Forty schools is an excellent start, but if the idea works then this MOOC could grow.
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