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Did you know that in the United States, many universities offer free online courses? This
type of Internet-based class is often called a massive open online course -- or as it is
known in the United States by its abbreviation, a "MOOC." These classes are offered to members
of the public and allow for interactive participation on a specific topic. These topics include
everything from computer programming and history, to math and English.
MOOCs are a new generation of distance learning, which is a type of education that has been
around for years in the U.S. Distance learning first appeared in the early 1900s, with written
correspondence courses, radio broadcast lectures, and later even televised classes.
The modern-day MOOC originated in 2008 but grew in popularity in 2012 with the launch
of several Internet sites hosting and promoting courses, such as the sites Coursera, Udacity,
and edX. Universities are hosting their own MOOCs as well. For example, in 2011 Stanford
University launched three courses, each with an enrollment of about 100,000 people. MOOCs
typically do not offer academic credit or charge tuition fees, but most provide students
with a certificate of completion that designates their score for the course. Since there is
no credit, students taking these online course usually participate out of personal interest
in the topic or a desire for education that will help them in their job or professional
field.
The methods of instructions for online courses depend on the type of class. MOOCs often use
video lectures, reading assignments, and on-line group discussions to mirror the types of instruction
found in actual university classrooms. Language classes often require students to record themselves
speaking so the instructor can check the accuracy of the pronunciation. Others use Skype or
Internet phone calls to facilitate conversations between students and instructors.
The purpose of massive open online courses is not only to educate those in America, but
to open up higher education to anybody in the world. Many courses have been translated
into other languages, and currently the online company Coursera has about 2.8 million users,
70% of which come from other countries. Completion rates for these courses are low, only 7%-9%.
Interest in MOOCs is growing, but organizers are trying to finds ways to improve the low
rates of completion stemming from students' busy schedules or a lack of motivation to
complete the work. Organizers are also strategizing how to replicate online the student bonds
and communities that form in college classrooms. Since MOOCs are still in their infancy, there
is much debate of how to strengthen their effectiveness.