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Should we use a 1000-year old lecture model?Monologues by professors are of limited effectiveness for students. The lecture model dates back to 1088 AD, and new teaching methods are required that make learning more efficient and interactive. MOOCs and flipped classrooms could be a part of the change.
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LinkedIn user profiles to have online education certificationLinkedIn, the networking site for professionals, has partnered with online education firms to help users showcase their internet-based educational accomplishments. Its Direct-to-Profile Certifications pilot program makes it easy for members to update their profiles with the certification or completed course work when they complete an online course.
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China Encourages MOOCS in Higher EducationThe Chinese government has welcomed MOOCs and is speeding up the development of their own contributions to the online learning. Some of the Chinese universities like Tsinghua, Peking and Shanghai Jiao Tong are now launching MOOCs to share resources and to transform their own teaching methods.
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Learning Hubs - A New Evolution for MOOCSThe United States government has teamed up with Cousera, a pioneer in the MOOC platform to create learning hubs around the world. The students can go to the hub to get Internet access to free courses supplemented by weekly in-person class discussions with local teachers or facilitators. This would address the two issues: the lack of reliable Internet access, and the thought that students perform better if they can discuss and meet occasionally with a teacher or facilitator.
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MOOCs of Open Universities AustraliaOpen Universities Australia's free MOOC platform - Open2Study has drawn 100,000 enrollments with 53,000 learners from more than 180 countries. It is Australia's first free online education provider. With new courses added, the Open2Study team expects to have up to 50 courses by the end of the year.
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State support required to lower college costsColleges today provide facilities to make learning more effective and comfortable. They organize math labs, learning centers and study coaches for students who need extra help. Well equipped labs, libraries with online books and journals, better rooms and cafeteria all add to the cost of college - a point missed by many critics who blame the colleges for increasing cost of higher education. State support of universities is required to help lower the costs.
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The value of a degree in the UKGraduates in the UK earn £200,000 more over a lifetime than non-graduates. Graduation increases the earnings by 28% for men, and 53% for women. The benefit of graduates to the government is substantial too, far in excess of exchequer costs in subsidizing student loans.
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MOOCs not a threat but an aid to professors in AfricaMOOCs are seen by some as a threat to home grown educators in Africa and developing countries in other parts of the world. But online courses will not replace local professors or hurt the national educational systems. They can in fact help them. Professors can use online courses as a teaching aid, to flip the classroom and improve the quality of education.
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Alumni asked to donate time and intellect for online courseHarvard University has requested its graduates to donate their time and intellects to its online humanities course "The Ancient Greek Hero". The original offline version of the course has been completed by over 10,000 students, who are now requested by the university to volunteer as online mentors and discussion group managers.
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Do MOOCs spell the end of the university?College education will be accessible to everyone through the internet and barring prestigious universities, the college campus will become obsolete. With the growth of MOOCs and online education, the primary platform for higher education in the future may be a third-party website, not the university itself.