Top Universities Transforming Education with Free Online Courses

tudents all over the world are jumping at the chance of obtaining a qualification from some of the most renowned institutions in the world, including MIT, and they can now obtain one through the online courses being offered by these establishments. The growing number of establishments which now offer these courses, including Stanford and Harvard, has spike an interest in online education, as well as allowing students to try their hand at these courses without paying a penny for the privilege. While the idea behind online learning is certainly not new, the fact that such esteemed institutions are now getting behind the idea is what seems to have been driving it forward in recent month and caused a stir that is sure to alter the way people think and feel about an online qualification.

Rising To The Challenges Of Higher Education in a Fluctuating Economy

With the rising costs of obtaining a university education, many potential students have been left behind, and it is thought that this online revolution is going to change all of that. With these courses, student debt and the costs of relocating to another part of the country (or even the world) to get a decent education are no longer constraining students to the point where they finally give up; they can now choose to apply for these free from anywhere in the world.
 ons are choosing to charge for the courses that they allow students to enroll in online, but these learners will be working towards a qualification, and the overall expenses are still expected to be much lower than traditional brick-and-mortar establishments. Online course offerings are set to assist with regards to the rising costs traditionally associated with a qualification, including tuition and the lowered budgets of the university’s themselves.

What Does The Future Of Higher Education Have in Store

Supporters of this new age of education are very positive about the contribution that it will make to the field of education in general, as well as the economy of the country. According to the president of the American Council on Education, Molly Corbett Broad, “it holds the potential for serving many, many hundreds of thousands of students in a way we simply cannot today“. Many are of the opinion that land-based institutions around the country simply cannot keep up with the growing demand in higher education, and these online offerings are one way to reach out to those who would like to enhance their prospects without having to deal with the disadvantages that usually go hand-in-hand with an education obtained from a land-based institution.

Contributing To Land-Based Education

In a recent interview, Robert Birgeneau, the UC Berkley Chancellor stated, “I believe it will ultimately revolutionize education,” and it seems he might be right. Not only are online courses being used to benefit those that cannot attend land-based institutions; they are also contributing to the enhanced learning potential of those that are completing their qualifications through brick-and-mortar establishments. Online lectures are being watched by students before they attend class so that they are prepared for the discussions and case studies that will take place within their classrooms.
The revolution of online learning is still in the infancy stage, but it seems set to completely take over the field of education. While it remains to be seen just how successful online courses will become in the future, one thing is certain; education and the way students experience it will never be quite the same again.