By Hannah Field
MOOCs.
It is not often that such a silly-sounding word starts a revolution, but this odd acronym is threatening to completely transform higher education. It has caused colleges and universities to spend millions of dollars, been the subject of countless news headlines, and even led to the resignation of a few college presidents. MOOCs, or Massive Open Online Courses, are currently enjoying their new-found fame.
Middle-class parents of students attending expensive universities had been praying for something like MOOCs to come along even before they gained fame and a silly acronym. What could be wrong with an engaging online course from a prestigious school that is easy to enroll in and absolutely free? According to the top-notch colleges which offer these courses (Harvard, Duke, MIT, and Stanford, just to name a few), there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. MOOCs teach all different subjects, from basics of guitar to electrical engineering. The colleges that produce MOOCs see these courses as a way to educate people from all corners of the world. Other people hope free online courses may somehow help decrease the cost of college tuition if they become popular enough. Some people even think that if the MOOCs system was just slightly different, some colleges and universities would become obsolete and unnecessary.
Of course, top-notch colleges have no interest in decreasing the cost of tuition, so MOOCs are not for credit. Certificates are given to students who complete the entire online course and pass the final exam, but hold little meaning. Even if someone were to take 40 different MOOCs taught by prestigious professors in a particular area of study, there is no way for him or her to receive a degree. This means that there is no pressure to decrease the cost of tuition at traditional colleges, because a degree is a necessary part of the equation. Although MOOC certificates can give a person a competitive edge in the workforce, it is nearly impossible to get a job with them alone, even if the Harvard name is attached.
Even if the MOOCs system were to change and students began to receive college credit for the completion of courses, it would not make traditional colleges unnecessary. I am just as nervous about tuition, financial aid, student loans and unemployment numbers as the next middle-class, college-bound, second-semester senior. I believe college tuition in America is entirely too high and is one of our country’s biggest issues. With that said, there is no replacement for traditional college. College provides a community in which students live and learn together. Part of what makes college so transformative for students is the fact they are living and interacting with a diverse group of other people. Despite the cost effectiveness of MOOCs, it is difficult to get the college experience by sitting alone in front of a computer, even if the teaching is exceptional.
MOOCs certainly have their place. They are great for educating those who have little access to or funds for college. The 12-year-old girl living in Pakistan who wants to study physics and the 55-year-old woman with a college degree and free time who has an interest in learning Greek and Roman mythology both benefit from MOOCs. For recent high school graduates, however, there is no substitution for a college experience, complete with real professors and intelligent discourse. And there shouldn’t be.