Critique of Coursera and edX

[cardiacclep]

I think it's great that Coursera and edX are finally making strides to help people earn real college credits for less than the average cost of a graduate course, but I wish they would focus more on baccalaureate programs. From my observations, that's where there is the most need. Graduate degrees are elective and a luxury for most people whereas bachelor's degrees are becoming a necessity for good-paying jobs. The barrier to college starts with people without degrees who don't make enough to pay for tuition without going into a lot of debt. Most people going for master's degrees are working professionals who have greater means. 

What's more disappointing is that more people are going to know about Coursera and edX than SL, SDC, Saylor, etc. I would even bet that there are more people who know about MOOCs than there are those who know about CLEP and DSST.

I overall agree with you. I think this is just the beginning of a shift in what education should and can be. Straighterline and edutech CEOs like Burck Smith of SL have been evangelizing that online courses are outrageously priced as the infrastructure to support an online class is very low and paying premium per credit cost or more than on campus fees is there to really prop up football stadiums and administrators that get paid six figures that do not provide any really tangible benefits.

This forum in a lot of ways is cutting edge and savvy as we know about the alternatives. The out of control cost of education has finally hit a tipping point as the ROI is getting questionable for many families and individuals. There is a really interesting article that states that in the next 10 years half of colleges maybe closed especially if they do not provide both affordability and ROI: https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/15/hbs-prof...years.html

Overall though I see Coursera and EdX at least help in setting up an alternative to the racket that higher ed has had for too long. The cracks in higher ed are showing and I believe affordable online education will start come back down to reasonable prices. I really hope so at least. 

To your point about MOOCs, my biggest frustration is that they are not granting true college credit for these courses. I feel it is a rub in a way that poor kid can work hard on these courses and master the subject only to get a "good job kid" certification that has no real tangible value. I wish, to your point, these MOOC providers finally make these courses credit worthy some how. I see no reason why a legit college degree (through MOOCs) at this point, cannot be akin to what U of the People is trying to accomplish or at least make the cost an 1/8th the cost. Overall though, I see positive changes coming. The Georgia Tech masters for $10,000 show that quality, excellent reputation and affordability can be achieved for low cost. If Georgia Tech can create a great masters for $10,00, the crappy state school had better find a way as well or they will perish per the article. Interesting times indeed.