Massive Open Online Courses: Why, How and Who?

An overwhelming majority of young people today have access to the internet and use it to socialize, entertain themselves and find information. We’re all aware of the pros and cons of spending time online; you get that useful piece of information you were searching for, but then waste an extra hour clicking on irresistible links… But in the midst of the ongoing debate about the online world and our relationship to it, one worthwhile way to use it has emerged: as part of the education process.

MOOCs (massive open online courses) are a way to access additional education in an area of your interest for free.This sounds like trick, but it is for real!Many world-leading universities have united into consortiums and organized huge platforms for the provision of free online education. Harvard, Yale, Oxford and many other famous institutions are in the list.

The biggest MOOC platforms include Coursera, edX and Udacity, and many more are emerging.These platforms offer a large selection of massive open online courses, which provide the opportunity, as the edX creators put it, to “study, have fun, uncover a new passion or learn skills that just may change your life”. Not only do they have a catchy slogan, but MOOCs really are cause for optimism, allowing anyone with an internet connection to access the opportunities a free online education provides.

Online courses have been around for a while. The main difference with MOOCs is that they’re offered free of charge. And since you can take them anywhere with an internet connection, there is no need to spend money on travel expenses, insurance, visas or accommodation. No need to leave home, country and family.

MOOCs have also been characterized by the fact that many of the universities offering them have extremely strong global reputations, as do the academics involved in their development. These online courses offer the opportunity to experience learning from the world’s best professors and lecturers, both those purely from the academic world and those with relevant industry experience.

The creators of MOOCs (universities) often offer certificates for those who successfully finish the course and pass the test, exam or another kind of control. Usually the certificate is not given for free; the price may range from $15 to $40. Successful course takers might also get a special offer if they want to go on to enroll at the university for another course, either online or on-campus – sometimes MOOCs can be converted to count towards part of a degree qualification, while outstanding MOOC students may even be offered a part-scholarship.