Massive Open Online Courses – EdX.org – change is here

“The sum of human wisdom is not contained in any one language.”

– Ezra Pound

One of the most disruptive forces in education I have studied is a free MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) from some of the nation’s smartest educators. A non-profit called edx.org has transformed educational opportunities for millions of people in four years. I was fortunate to attend a lecture from Anant Agarwalthe CEO of EdX.org and a MIT professor. This passionate, visionary educational leader shared what many considered implausible, impossible, and he proves the doubters wrong. Through high quality educational offerings online, for free, EdX is educating the world – for free – 24/7.

moocs-learning-rfOne of the greatest services that Professor Agarwal shared is that people can use the free course content anywhere and anytime. People can complete freshman year of college online – at a fraction of the cost of traditional education – and get all freshman credits before entering the university. This is through a partnership with Arizona State University. EdX has partnerships with more than 60 universities. If this sounds unbelievable, it is true.

The courses available through EdX currently span grades 7-post-university. Consider the implications, ANYONE – I mean anyone – anywhere – for free (certificates of completion may cost $50 (fifty dollars) and the Global Freshman Academy (completing freshman year online) may cost $5,000 (five thousand dollars). Professor Agarwal shared that 25% of those completing courses are teachers themselves brushing up on content to support and augment their own teaching. Imagine needing some help for advanced algebra students in middle school – imagine using free courseware from EdX to augment, blend, and flip your instruction. The course content is FREE of charge.

Other incredible facts about EdX is that every AP (advanced placement) course is available online. The course content is free and students will pay the test fee to take the AP exam and earn transferable credit. The concept of a four year degree is changed. Not changing – changed. Consider the economic impact of young people completing freshman year of college coursework online – possibly prior to the end of high download (3)school – and costing $5,000. Wow! The impact of this MOOC is beyond comprehension at this time. The future is now – change is happening and I challenge my fellow educators to join and avail themselves of the powerful resources EdX offers – again – free of charge content vetted by universities and highly respected professors and teachers.

Aside from learning about powerful and impactful tools it is our charge to share with our communities so that far reaching concepts and resources like EdX do not remain a secret. When the first course launched in 2011 there were 155,000 people who checked out the course and more than 7000 completed and passed the first course. Done traditionally, it would have taken decades for MIT to have taught the same course to 7000 students. More people checked this course online than the aggregate of all MIT graduates in the 150 year history of the university! People from nearly every country in the world have taken EdX courses. There is an app for mobile studying, there is a website for free access as well. Talk about anytime and anywhere learning.


 

As Anant Agarwal discussed with us, “Education is a human right so why hasn’t is changed much in two centuries?” It’s time to teach differently, as I write frequently, Innovation is essential. The iPad was bornCScRi5IWsAAIIv8 in 2010 … EdX.org was born four years ago founded by MIT and Harvard folks. With resources like this we can help our teachers rethink pedagogy. EdX launched its high school initiative in 2014.

The bottom line is we can Improve learning outcomes. Instant feedback is proven scientifically to support learning and increase learning. EdX.org courseware (free) provides multiple forms of instant feedback for the learners. Learners don’t complete a task and wait 48 hours or 2 weeks to read the teacher’s feedback. Research shows instant feedback improves learning – we know what works – we have access to tools – let’s innovate and change!

This is a game changer! EdX.org is a powerful professional TOOL FOR TEACHERS. If anyone wonders why blended learning is impactful they have not yet pursued a learning sequence online and I challenge them to do so! Consider the impact on a learner when he or she can pause, rewind, re-listen, focus on the teacher’s message as opposed to listening once – possibly taking notes – and possibly understanding the content. Blended instruction is so elegant and simple – it takes technology, allows personalization, and creates more human interaction.

ENGAGE, INSPIRE, EMPOWER
ENGAGE, INSPIRE, EMPOWER

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