Sunday, 12 August 2012

Six Tech Companies Reshaping Higher Education

Higher education is in high demand, and this need is rising sharply with studies estimating that over 150 million more people will seek qualifications within the next decade. As technology increases, people are now looking for ways to bring education into this domain, and a few innovative startups are proving that nothing is impossible when some of the greatest minds of our generation put their heads together in an effort to bring education to the masses in a way that was never possible before. These 6 tech companies are making waves in higher education.

1. 2tor

2tor is bringing higher education into people’s homes by providing higher educational institutions with a platform to offer degree programs ranging from bachelor’s to master’s degrees in just about every faculty. Not only is this startup allowing institutions the opportunity to make their courses available to students through an interactive and socially-oriented platform, it is also obtained funding of just under $97 million, which means that is has enough resources to continue growing. The apps created by these developers allow students to access courses through their iPhones and iPads, and this is just another way they are placing educational opportunities into the hands of students who just need an internet connection to obtain a qualification.

2. Udemy

The internet has made it possible for people to share information instantly with just about anyone on earth and this globalization of information has now reached the educational sphere. Udemy is a startup that allows just about anyone to compile a course, with the added ability of including audio files, videos, and PowerPoint documents to supplement it. The site itself is accessible to anyone with an internet connection, and students have the ability to opt for courses ranging from mathematics to sports.

3. EdX

EdX is one of those startups that have currently been making waves in the field of education due to its partnership with two of the world’s most esteemed higher educational institutions; Harvard and MIT. EdX aims to allow students from all over the world to sign up for courses offered by these institutions at no cost, and they include video lectures and quizzes to assist in helping students gain a better understanding of the materials offered.

4. Udacity

Udacity is a privately owned online school that provides tuition-free online classes to its users. This free university was developed by three roboticists who wanted to create a way to offer quality education to everyone. Currently, the institute offers 6 different courses for users to choose from.

5. Coursera

Coursera is yet another online school that offers high quality learning to everyone, completely free of charge. Cousera is partnered with some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the world. Through this program, students can choose to take courses based on many different areas of study. Courses taught range from humanities, medicine, science, biology, math, business, social sciences, computer sciences, and many more.

6. Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a web based school that hosts over 3,500 videos that cover topics ranging from finance, math, and hundreds of other specialties. The site offers users the chance to learn about practically anything and again at no cost. Khan Academy was founded in 2006 by a MIT and Harvard University graduate.

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