`90% of Indians taking online courses benefit'
Finally there is data reflecting the impact of massively open online courses (MOOCs). When they burst onto the education scene about four years ago, there were questions about the evaluation mechanism and the worth of a MOOC certificate. Coursera, one of the largest purveyors of MOOCs, has conducted the first survey of “learning outcomes“ --essentially impact on professional andor academic careers of learners--and it answers at least some of those questions.Surprisingly , as per the survey conducted by Coursera and researchers at the Universities of Pennsylvania and Washington, Indian learners of the 51,954 surveyed, reported better outcomes than the global average. The respondents were learners who were “three or more months past completing at least one Coursera course.“ They were divided into two groups according to their primary objective for signing up for a MOOC--the “career builders“ are those who sought to advance their professional careers and “education seekers“ those who wanted academic help.
“The vast majority of learners who complete open online courses are reporting both career advancement (72%) and educational advancement (61%). Indian learners have reported a slightly higher career (82%) and educational (76%) benefit than the global average,“ says the study . 90% of career builders saw benefits, where the global average was 87%. Apparently , 30% “found a new job“.
Similarly, 91% of Indian education seekers saw a range of benefits where the global average was 88%; 68% “gained knowledge essential to a field of study“, an 33% “saw tangible benefits like receiving credit or fulfilling prerequisites“. But more startlingly, “30% of Indian learners are likely to report improved admissions to academic programs, the highest amongst other nationals“.
The survey was completed in December 2014.
“The vast majority of learners who complete open online courses are reporting both career advancement (72%) and educational advancement (61%). Indian learners have reported a slightly higher career (82%) and educational (76%) benefit than the global average,“ says the study . 90% of career builders saw benefits, where the global average was 87%. Apparently , 30% “found a new job“.
Similarly, 91% of Indian education seekers saw a range of benefits where the global average was 88%; 68% “gained knowledge essential to a field of study“, an 33% “saw tangible benefits like receiving credit or fulfilling prerequisites“. But more startlingly, “30% of Indian learners are likely to report improved admissions to academic programs, the highest amongst other nationals“.
The survey was completed in December 2014.
Source::: Sep 30 2015 : The Times of India (Mumbai), p.18, http://epaperbeta.
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