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Jennifer Henson

Examining For-Profit Motives for MOOCs - 6 views

MOOCs education

started by Jennifer Henson on 09 Oct 13
  • Jennifer Henson
    #1 Jennifer Henson on 09 Oct 13
     
    http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2013/10/09/Faculty-Coalition-Its-Time-to-Examine-MOOC-and-Online-Ed-Profit-Motives.aspx?Page=1

    This article just came out today. It's NOT good news, but does echo some of the things I've been suspecting. More and more universities are replacing academic leaders with corporate leaders--not just to run MOOCs, but to run everything. It's very distressing to me. I agree with the final recommendations:
    "One, institutions need to put in place "clear business plans for the growing number of online partnership deals between private companies and non-profit colleges." Two, they need to stop "fast-tracking, bypassing, or eliminating quality control decision-making processes in colleges and universities in accreditation or government oversight. These processes are focused on finance, governance, and educational quality and consumer rights." Gary Rhoades, faculty member at University of Arizona.
  • Richard Wilson
    #2 Richard Wilson on 10 Oct 13
     
    Interesting article Jennifer. Here's an actual professor that stopped his MOOC because of the fears mentioned in your article.
    http://m.chronicle.com/article/A-MOOC-Star-Defects-at-Least/141331/?cid=at

    As far as policy and undermining goes, I'm not really qualified to make a statement. But I do know that some of the best college courses I've taken have been taught by people active in industry, not in education. In the STEM subjects, they know the latest tools and how to drive them. There will always be that ubiquitous bond between education and industry, just because of their given roles. Could the private Universities of today not be considered "private companies" and the MOOC industries of the future be classified as non-profit entities? I think it may be more a fear of the unknown, an incomplete formula that has yet to prove itself and a fear of job loss by some.
  • Maria Austin
    #3 Maria Austin on 10 Oct 13
     
    I have to admit that I have philosophical issues with the concept of education as a business. If a business, it is one of a kind and only very collaterally related to any financial transaction. Many teachers teach because they love doing so, just think about the pay most of them get. The most outstanding teachers I know, have been those who have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a relentless drive to share it.

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