MOOC mania may be abating somewhat since the 2011 introduction of these hugely popular massive open on-line courses , but they still loom large on the academic landscape painting . MOOCs are offered by some of the most well - respected universities on the planet and are available through forward - think companies like Coursera and edX , often devoid of charge . There is some controversy about MOOCs , though , and much of it revolves around making them uncommitted for college credit . Although very few MOOCs are eligible for credit today , that may switch [ source : Kraft - Linder ] .
The trouble is n’t grade quality . It has to do with what we ’ll call regulation , or making sure any student obtain credit from a MOOC has in reality dispatch the class and mastered the textile . Where postsecondary coursework is concerned , being able to provide proof will be the key to the acceptance of for - recognition MOOC classes in the future .
There ’s really a lot of encouragement for validating MOOCs . Rising tuition , the pauperism for forward-looking grooming in the workplace and big number of worker heroic to jumpstart - commencement theircareershave helped shape a favorable environment for MOOC adoption if and when the crucial issue of regulation can be settled to everyone ’s satisfaction [ source : Clark ] .
To begin addressing the trouble , some MOOCs offer verified final exams for concerned students . Verification certificates have more academic validity than simple notices of mop up , and a few may be eligible for limited undergraduate college credit . Some MOOC exam are carry viawebcam , while others require students to visit specific testing site and furnish formal identification . In on-key virtual dash , Courserais exploring a unparalleled long - length choice that uses keystroke identification to validate student participation in some of its programs [ sources : Young , Masterson ] .
These might be the first salvos in a prospicient - term strategy to mainstream MOOCs and get them the recognition they – and the students complete them – may deserve . Until then , MOOCs are still a costless ( or dispirited toll ) way to amp up a resume , get ahead on postulate college coursework or act on a subject out of curiosity – for the see-through joyfulness of scholarship . Yep , there are still a few folks around who retrieve learning is its own reward .
