“Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world” Nelson Mandela
I am writing about Coursera just in case there is anyone out there, or at least anyone out there who reads JAA, who hasn’t yet heard of it, because Coursera is simply one of the best things on the internet that I have come across in some time. And it is free. Like all good things I heard about it by word of mouth when my friend C talked about taking Cousera classes at a recent book club meeting.
Coursera provides MOCCs to anyone anywhere in the world. No, me neither, I hadn’t a clue so I had to check on the interweb to discover that a MOOC is a Massive Open Online Course. Coursera describe succinctly what they to on their website thus: ‘Coursera is an education company that partners with the top universities and organizations in the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free. Our technology enables our partners to teach millions of students rather than hundreds.’
Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng, computer science professors at Stanford University, founded the platform in 2011 and launched it in 2012. A company called Coursera Inc runs the platform, venture capitalists fund the company so that means it will eventually have to turn in a profit. The good news is that it seems Coursera Inc don’t plan to raise revenue by charging students for participating in the courses. Andrew Ng has said: ‘We’re a for-profit, but if I had to choose between making money and changing millions of lives, I’d much rather change millions of lives.” Income streams will come from a variety of sources including the issuing of certificates (charged for, but an optional extra) to course participants who achieve over a certain mark,and matching up promising students with employers in a sort of recruitment agency role. There is an interesting New York Times’s article about all of this here
I have done one Coursera Course called ‘Crafting an Effective Writer: Tools of the Trade’ which was about the nuts and bolts of the English language. I wasn’t a good student as I tuned out in the first two weeks; week one was devoted to the online learning process and week two which covered parts of speech such as: nouns, verbs, adverbs etc was quite basic. However, I now wish I had focused more because when the course started to delve into things such as adverbial and subordinate conjunctions, concepts which if I was ever familiar with them I have long since forgotten, I wasn’t in a fast as cheetah learning mode. Still and all, I learned a lot and if the course comes up again I would definitely consider repeating it.
I signed up for another Coursera course called ‘Nutrition for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention’ taught by the University of California which starts next Monday. It’s a subject which interest me vastly so I intend to be a much more dedicated student this time round.
Note: the web address for Coursera is www.coursera.org
Just Add Attitude 
This is amazing, I have never heard of it but checked out the website. I am blown away. I will sign up for a course. Thank you for providing this information and best of luck on your course. I also am going to take a food related course.
Oh, I am so pleased as I was worried that everyone who reads this post would know of Coursera already. It is amazing and I am so glad I heard of it. Thank you for your good wishes with my course and I wish you tons of luck with yours. 😉
Thanks for that information. I never heard of it before but sounds really interesting so I’m going to check it out
You are welcome Bernadette, I hope you find some courses you would like to do.
I had no clue about it, but it sure sounds an interesting concept.
Thanks or sharing, B, and have a great weekend! 🙂
Stefano thanks for your good wishes for the weekend and the same right back to you. I think Coursera is a great concept and I am so glad I heard about it. 😉
I like this concept and I hope you enjoy your new course too!
Thanks Meg.
More and more big universities are making their courses available. It’s one of the great things about the Internet.
I look forward to hearing about your new course.
I agree it’s fantastic that so many people now have access to some of the best universities through online learning.
The positive power of the internet!
I’ve read about it a while ago bc I follow any tech or web related news, really 🙂 but I haven’t tried any of their courses yet, so the more I’m excited to read your opinion on it. will you review the health course?
I viewed the introductory video earlier and I am looking forward to my course. If I am a good student and do *all* the reading and video watching I will review it! 😉
word 😀
😉
It is a small world. I was with you on the Crafting an Effective Writer Course…. and I just happened to find you here as well! 🙂 Hope you enjoy your new course!
Gosh, what a small world indeed! I have popped over to have a look at your interesting blog and when I have more time I will have a longer look. Thank you for your comment and for your good wishes. 😉
gosh.
checking it out Right now!
lovely intro to a worthwhile enterprise indeed!
*wavingfromlosangeles*
I hope you found something interesting.
I love the idea of this open access to education for anyone anywhere in the world.
*wavingbackfromtheemeraldisle*
Very informative post, B. I have never heard of it but it sounds great! I have to admit that I’m not very good at following online courses…I tend to get distracted very easily. 😉 I’ll check their website and, if I find something that interests me, I might consider to give it another shot. 😉
Francesca I also have to admit that I am not good at following online courses. I am already behind on my latest course so I am going to watch multiple videos and read up on the notes this weekend so I can catch up on the first week’s work. Ah well! 😉
I am enrolled in Nutrition also. Good luck.. and have fun! 🙂
Thank you and lots of luck to you too. 😉