MOOCs: Why Low-Cost Will Not Create Equal Access
Nathan GarrettYesica Allaya
eLearn 2013, Las Vegas, NVWednesday, October 23rd, 1:30-2:00pm
http://profgarrett.com
Moocs are…
• “the biggest revolution in education since the printing press…”
Quality
Retention: How many students
complete successfully?
Pedagogy: What teaching techniques are
used?
Cost: What does the overall educational experience cost?
Access: What type of students are
recruited?
Iron Triangle
Cost
Access QualityPedagogyRetention
Traditional Higher Ed
• 5,599 colleges & universities• 21m students• 70% public• >50% over 23• 40% part-time
How many students graduate?
Private Not-For-Profit Four-Year Public Four-Year Private For-Profit Four-Year
67%
57%
26%
45%
39%
16%
60%
46%
28%
75%
65%
36%
White, Non- Hispanic Black Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander
We have unequal success between ethnic groups
92-93 97-98 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12
-$4,000
-$2,000
$0
$2,000
$4,000
$6,000
$8,000
$10,000
$12,000
$14,000
$16,000
Public 2-year Public 4-year Private 4-year
What students pay in tuition hasn’t significantly changed
What does it cost?
U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey and decennial census: Percentage of the Population 25 Years and Over Who Have Completed High School or College: Selected Year 1940-2009
But, we educate more of the population
Iron Triangle for Traditional Higher Education
Cost
Access QualityPedagogyRetention
Online Learning
• 32% of college students have taken at least one course
• 9% yearly growth rate
Access
• Requires – Prepared & motivated students
• Minorities have lower levels of computer preparation & skills
• Non-traditional also do worse
– Heavy feedback• Perceived as harder
– by all students
Cost
Outcomes
• Perceptions v. reality– Perceptions? Employers rank lower– Reality? Outcomes similar
Iron Triangle for Online Learning
Cost
Access QualityPedagogyRetention
Mooc
• xMooc v. cMooc– Dave Cormier, Bryan Alexander, George Siemens,
and Stephen Downes
Retention
• Range: 25%, 12%, 5%...
• Are these really serious completers?
• Coursera: – Overall: 7-9%– Intend to complete: 23%– Complete first assignment: 40%– Signature Track: 70%
http://mfeldstein.com/validation-mooc-student-patterns-graphic/
Cost per Completion
• Free v. “Free”• Cost
– Edinburgh, $46k– U Penn: $50k
Access
• Who finishes a Mooc?– 70% has BA/BS, half graduate degree– Majority outside US– 60% of Coursera income <50k
• San Jose– Developmental classes in Pilot
• 29-51%, 20% lower than traditional
Iron Triangle for Moocs
Cost
Access QualityPedagogyRetention
MoocOnlineFace-to-face
Cost
Access Quality