AMERiCA LEARNiNG MEDiA

Over the past year, MOOCs have opened the doors of access to quality education, and have captured the attention of educational leaders and students worldwide. Today, we’re excited to announce the next step in our mission to foster student learning without limits and expand the possibilities that MOOCs and online education can enable.

The big news is that we have begun working with 10 US state university systems and public schools to explore the possibilities of using MOOC technology and content to improve completion, quality, and access to higher education, both across the schools’ combined audiences of approximately 1.25 million physically enrolled students and among Coursera’s global classroom of learners. Here’s a full list of the new institutions that are joining Coursera’s platform:

• The State University of New York (SUNY)
• Tennessee Board of Regents
• University of Tennessee System
• University of Colorado System
• University of Houston System
• University of Kentucky
• University of Nebraska
• University of New Mexico
• University System of Georgia
• West Virginia University

By working with these institutions, we hope to motivate and encourage new methods and enhance previous approaches to teaching on-campus and online. Professors teaching at these schools will have the opportunity to develop online courses through Coursera, as well as adapt existing Coursera courses for their own classrooms.

So, what does this mean for students?

The partnership with Coursera will give professors the option to experiment with and improve upon the “blended learning” model, which combines online video lectures and content with active, in-person classroom interactions. Studies have shown many benefits to blended learning, including improved classroom participation. Pilot programs, which will be offered at several joining institutions, will be evaluated for their effectiveness in enhancing student success.

Additionally, this collaboration opens up opportunities for institutions to consider for-credit offerings for non-matriculated students interested in continuing their education, but who might not have access to campus resources. Institutions can use Coursera’s platform to create MOOCs that allow learners to have access to course content, and potentially receive credentials upon completion.

Moreover, faculty at various institutions will be able share content and adapt it to suit the needs of their own students. As an example, this capability can greatly enhance high school dual enrollment programs, allowing matriculated high-school students to take university-level courses which are transferrable for college credit.

Nancy L. Zimpher, chancellor of the nation’s largest system of public higher education, The State University of New York, said: “This new partnership with Coursera will be invaluable as we launch Open SUNY, which will give our students increased access to the online courses SUNY faculty offer in New York and worldwide. Working with Coursera presents a fantastic opportunity for higher education systems across the country to increase educational access, instructional quality and exposure, and degree completion. We are proud to be a part of this effort and look forward to getting started.”

“We think the coming decade will see a transformation in the way education is delivered, where teachers and online content come together to better serve students on campus and beyond. With this announcement, we take a step further in our goal to expand quality education to all,” said Andrew and Daphne, Coursera’s Co-CEO’s.