CMU’s online efforts focus on sustainable business model – but not MOOCs

CMU’s OLI (Open Learning Inititative) is decades ahead of the MOOCs in terms of quality of offerings and evidence of effectiveness. So why aren’t they hyping their better product? I’ve asked that question several times of colleagues at CMU. This article explains it — basically, they’re focusing on sustainable business models, rather than launching into MOOCs without a clear revenue model.

Kamlet said Carnegie Mellon is working on an approach that encourages financially solvent business plans from the get-go.

“To be honest, I think there are some challenges – edX and Coursera would be the first to admit that they are going to see how things go over time in terms of a business model,” Kamlet said.

via Carnegie Mellon’s online efforts include spinoffs and subsidiaries but not MOOCs | Inside Higher Ed.

Meeting everyone’s educational needs with a single course: Can we even do that?

Probably lots of people have now heard about the professor who walked out on his Coursera MOOC.  What I found striking was Irvine’s response.  They suggest that the course was just fine and would meet the needs of just about everyone, from those who just wanted a taste to those who wanted a serious education.  What we know aptitude-treatment interaction suggests that that’s not possible.  A single course, with no personalization, is unlikely to meet the needs of tens of thousands of students.

Irvine officials, however, “felt that the course was very strong and well designed,” he said, “and that it would, indeed, meet the learning objectives of the large audience, including both those interested only in dipping into the subject and those who were seriously committed” to completing the course.

via Professor Leaves a MOOC in Mid-Course in Dispute Over Teaching – Wired Campus – The Chronicle of Higher Education.